How to pronounce Columbia
Say it like kuh-LUHM-bee-uh. Columbia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Columbia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- LUHM
- bee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Columbia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Columbia
American and British speakers say Columbia in essentially the same way: /kəˈlʌmbiə/ in the US and /kəˈlʌmbiə/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-LUHM-bee-uh.
What does Columbia mean?
- A river in British Columbia, Canada and in Washington and Oregon, United States, flowing from the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific Ocean.
- District of Columbia. The federal capital region of the United States of America, including Washington, D.C.
Where does Columbia come from?
From Columbus + -ia, the Latinized name of the European explorer, Christopher Columbus.
Questions about saying Columbia
How do you pronounce Columbia?
Say kuh-LUHM-bee-uh. The American pronunciation is /kəˈlʌmbiə/. In British English it is /kəˈlʌmbiə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Columbia?
Columbia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHM). Broken into parts: kuh · LUHM · bee · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say Columbia the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈlʌmbiə/ and the British form is /kəˈlʌmbiə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.