How to pronounce koala
Say it like koh-AH-luh. Koala has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce koala. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- AH
- luh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Koala pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- AHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of koala
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: koh-AH-luh.
What does koala mean?
- A tree-dwelling marsupial, Phascolarctos cinereus, that resembles a small bear with a broad head, large ears and sharp claws, mainly found in eastern Australia.
Where does koala come from?
From Dharug gula or gulawany.
Words that rhyme with koala
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of koala.
Questions about saying koala
How do you pronounce koala?
Say koh-AH-luh. The American pronunciation is /koʊˈɑlə/. In British English it is /kəʊˈɑːlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in koala?
Koala has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AH). Broken into parts: koh · AH · luh.
Is koala 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 /kəʊˈɑːlə/ (koh-AH-luh).