How to pronounce Kauai
Say it like KOW-eye. Kauai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Kauai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOW
- eye
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kauai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- eyeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of Kauai
American and British speakers say Kauai in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/ in the US and /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOW-eye.
What does Kauai mean?
- The oldest and fourth-largest island of Hawaii.
Where does Kauai come from?
From Hawaiian Kauaʻi, of uncertain meaning.
Questions about saying Kauai
How do you pronounce Kauai?
Say KOW-eye. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Kauai?
Kauai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW). Broken into parts: KOW · eye.
Do Americans and Brits say Kauai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊˌaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.