How to pronounce Honolulu
Say it like hon-uh-LOO-loo. Honolulu has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Honolulu. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hon
- uh
- LOO
- loo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Honolulu pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- honGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- looKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of Honolulu
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: hon-uh-LOO-loo.
What does Honolulu mean?
- the capital and largest city of Hawaii; located on a large bay on the island of Oahu
Questions about saying Honolulu
How do you pronounce Honolulu?
Say hon-uh-LOO-loo. The American pronunciation is /ˌhɑnəˈlulu/. In British English it is /ˌhɒnəˈluːluː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Honolulu?
Honolulu has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LOO). Broken into parts: hon · uh · LOO · loo.
Is Honolulu 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 /ˌhɒnəˈluːluː/ (hon-uh-LOO-loo).