How to pronounce Jonah
Say it like JOH-nuh. Jonah has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Jonah. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JOH
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jonah pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Jonah
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: JOH-nuh.
What does Jonah mean?
- (Old Testament) Jonah did not wish to become a prophet so God caused a great storm to throw him overboard from a ship; he was saved by being swallowed by a whale that vomited him out onto dry land
- a person believed to bring bad luck to those around him
- a book in the Old Testament that tells the story of Jonah and the whale
Words that rhyme with Jonah
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Jonah.
Questions about saying Jonah
How do you pronounce Jonah?
Say JOH-nuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒoʊnə/. In British English it is /ˈdʒəʊnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Jonah?
Jonah has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JOH). Broken into parts: JOH · nuh.
Is Jonah pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈdʒəʊnə/ (JOH-nuh).