How to pronounce cowabunga
Say it like kow-BUHNG-guh. Cowabunga has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BUHNG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cowabunga. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kow
- BUHNG
- guh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cowabunga pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kowGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- BUHNGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cowabunga
American and British speakers say cowabunga in essentially the same way: /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/ in the US and /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/ in the UK.
British respelling: kow-BUHNG-guh.
What does cowabunga mean?
- Expressing amazement, enthusiasm, or joy.“Cowabunga, dude!”
Where does cowabunga come from?
Unknown, but was popularized (as Kowa-Bunga) by Chief Thunderthud on the American children's show Howdy Doody in the late 1940s or early 1950s, and became associated with American surfing culture.
Questions about saying cowabunga
How do you pronounce cowabunga?
Say kow-BUHNG-guh. The American pronunciation is /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/. In British English it is /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cowabunga?
Cowabunga has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BUHNG). Broken into parts: kow · BUHNG · guh.
Do Americans and Brits say cowabunga the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/ and the British form is /ˌkaʊˈbʌŋɡə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.