How to pronounce Havana
Say it like huh-VAN-uh. Havana has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Havana. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- huh
- VAN
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Havana pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- huhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Havana
American and British speakers say Havana in essentially the same way: /həˈvænə/ in the US and /həˈvænə/ in the UK.
British respelling: huh-VAN-uh.
What does Havana mean?
- The capital city of Cuba.
Where does Havana come from?
From Spanish La Habana, from Habaguanex, the native American chief (cacique) who controlled the area, the name derived from Taíno sabana (“savannah”).
Words that rhyme with Havana
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Havana.
Questions about saying Havana
How do you pronounce Havana?
Say huh-VAN-uh. The American pronunciation is /həˈvænə/. In British English it is /həˈvænə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Havana?
Havana has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAN). Broken into parts: huh · VAN · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say Havana the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /həˈvænə/ and the British form is /həˈvænə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.