How to pronounce Istanbul
Say it like is-tahn-BOOL. Istanbul has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BOOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Istanbul. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- is
- tahn
- BOOL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Istanbul pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- isGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tahnKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- BOOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of Istanbul
American and British speakers say Istanbul in essentially the same way: /ˌɪstɑnˈbul/ in the US and /ˌɪstænˈbuːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: is-tan-BOOL.
What does Istanbul mean?
- A Turkish city, and the largest European city by population, which was the last capital of the Ottoman Empire and the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).
- A province in Turkey.
Words that rhyme with Istanbul
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Istanbul.
Questions about saying Istanbul
How do you pronounce Istanbul?
Say is-tahn-BOOL. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪstɑnˈbul/. In British English it is /ˌɪstænˈbuːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Istanbul?
Istanbul has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BOOL). Broken into parts: is · tahn · BOOL.
Do Americans and Brits say Istanbul the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪstɑnˈbul/ and the British form is /ˌɪstænˈbuːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.