How to pronounce Kurdistan
Say it like KUR-dih-stan. Kurdistan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Kurdistan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUR
- dih
- stan
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kurdistan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- stanGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of Kurdistan
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: KUH-dih-stahn.
What does Kurdistan mean?
- A cultural region in West Asia inhabited mostly by the Kurds, encompassing parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
- An autonomous region in northern and northeastern Iraq, lying within the aforementioned Kurdish-majority region.
- A province in northwestern Iran, lying within the aforementioned Kurdish-majority region.
Questions about saying Kurdistan
How do you pronounce Kurdistan?
Say KUR-dih-stan. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɝdɪˌstæn/. In British English it is /ˈkədɪˌstɑːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Kurdistan?
Kurdistan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUR). Broken into parts: KUR · dih · stan.
Is Kurdistan pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkədɪˌstɑːn/ (KUH-dih-stahn).