How to pronounce Guatemala
Say it like gwah-tuh-MAH-luh. Guatemala has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Guatemala. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- gwah
- tuh
- MAH
- luh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Guatemala pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- gwahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Guatemala
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: gwah-tuh-MAH-luh.
What does Guatemala mean?
- A country in northern Central America. Official name: Republic of Guatemala. Capital and largest city: Guatemala City.
Where does Guatemala come from?
Borrowed from Spanish Guatemala (originally the name of Iximche, the location of Guatemala's first capital), from Classical Nahuatl Cuauhtēmallān, from cuauhtēmalli (“woodpile”) + -tlān (“place”).
Words that rhyme with Guatemala
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Guatemala.
Questions about saying Guatemala
How do you pronounce Guatemala?
Say gwah-tuh-MAH-luh. The American pronunciation is /ˌɡwɑtəˈmɑlə/. In British English it is /ˌɡwɑːtəˈmɑːlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Guatemala?
Guatemala has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MAH). Broken into parts: gwah · tuh · MAH · luh.
Is Guatemala pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˌɡwɑːtəˈmɑːlə/ (gwah-tuh-MAH-luh).