How to pronounce Hokkaido
Say it like ho-KY-doh. Hokkaido has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KY).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Hokkaido. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/hɑˈkaɪdoʊ/ho-KY-doh
UK British/hɒˈkaɪdəʊ/ho-KY-doh
- ho
- KY
- doh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hokkaido pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hoKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- KYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- dohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Hokkaido
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ho-KY-doh.
What does Hokkaido mean?
proper noun
- The second largest island of Japan, capital Sapporo.
Questions about saying Hokkaido
How do you pronounce Hokkaido?
Say ho-KY-doh. The American pronunciation is /hɑˈkaɪdoʊ/. In British English it is /hɒˈkaɪdəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Hokkaido?
Hokkaido has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KY). Broken into parts: ho · KY · doh.
Is Hokkaido pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /hɒˈkaɪdəʊ/ (ho-KY-doh).