How to pronounce kahuna
Say it like kuh-HOO-nuh. Kahuna has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kahuna. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- HOO
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kahuna pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of kahuna
American and British speakers say kahuna in essentially the same way: /kəˈhunə/ in the US and /kəˈhuːnə/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-HOO-nuh.
What does kahuna mean?
- A priest or priestess of the traditional Hawaiian religion.
- A great surfer.
Where does kahuna come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian kahuna (“shaman, wizard”).
Words that rhyme with kahuna
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kahuna.
Questions about saying kahuna
How do you pronounce kahuna?
Say kuh-HOO-nuh. The American pronunciation is /kəˈhunə/. In British English it is /kəˈhuːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kahuna?
Kahuna has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOO). Broken into parts: kuh · HOO · nuh.
Do Americans and Brits say kahuna the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈhunə/ and the British form is /kəˈhuːnə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.