How to pronounce Korea
Say it like kor-EE-uh. Korea has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Korea. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kor
- EE
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Korea pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- korGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Korea
American and British speakers say Korea in essentially the same way: /ˌkɔˈriə/ in the US and /kəˈriːə/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-REE-uh.
What does Korea mean?
- A geographic region in East Asia, consisting of two countries, commonly known as South Korea and North Korea; formerly a single country.
- South Korea: A country in East Asia, comprising the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.
- North Korea: A country in East Asia, whose territory consists of the northern part of Korea.
Words that rhyme with Korea
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Korea.
Questions about saying Korea
How do you pronounce Korea?
Say kor-EE-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɔˈriə/. In British English it is /kəˈriːə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Korea?
Korea has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EE). Broken into parts: kor · EE · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say Korea the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌkɔˈriə/ and the British form is /kəˈriːə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.