How to pronounce indaba
Say it like in-DAH-buh. Indaba has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce indaba. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- DAH
- buh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Indaba pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- DAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of indaba
American and British speakers say indaba in essentially the same way: /ɪnˈdɑbə/ in the US and /ɪnˈdɑːbə/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-DAH-buh.
What does indaba mean?
- A tribal conference held by Nguni leaders.
- Any conference, discussion, or meeting.
- Chiefly in one's own or someone's indaba: a concern, matter, or problem.
Where does indaba come from?
Borrowed from Zulu índaba (“affair, issue, matter; piece of news; story”), from ín- (class 9 noun prefix) + -daɓa (stem meaning ‘affair, matter’).
Questions about saying indaba
How do you pronounce indaba?
Say in-DAH-buh. The American pronunciation is /ɪnˈdɑbə/. In British English it is /ɪnˈdɑːbə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in indaba?
Indaba has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAH). Broken into parts: in · DAH · buh.
Do Americans and Brits say indaba the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪnˈdɑbə/ and the British form is /ɪnˈdɑːbə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.