How to pronounce chikungunya
Say it like chih-kung-GUUN-yuh. Chikungunya has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (GUUN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chikungunya. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- chih
- kung
- GUUN
- yuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chikungunya pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- chihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kungKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- GUUNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of chikungunya
American and British speakers say chikungunya in essentially the same way: /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/ in the US and /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/ in the UK.
British respelling: chih-kung-GUUN-yuh.
What does chikungunya mean?
- A viral fever caused by the Chikungunya virus, an alphavirus spread by mosquito bites.
Where does chikungunya come from?
Borrowed from Makonde chikungunya (“that which bends up”), apparently referring to the arthritic effects of the disease.
Questions about saying chikungunya
How do you pronounce chikungunya?
Say chih-kung-GUUN-yuh. The American pronunciation is /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/. In British English it is /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chikungunya?
Chikungunya has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (GUUN). Broken into parts: chih · kung · GUUN · yuh.
Do Americans and Brits say chikungunya the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/ and the British form is /tʃɪkʊŋˈɡʊnjə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.