How to pronounce kwaito
Say it like KWY-toh. Kwaito has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kwaito. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KWY
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kwaito pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of kwaito
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KWY-toh.
What does kwaito mean?
- A style of music featuring words chanted over house music, originating in Johannesburg during the 1990s.
- The meme or milieu associated with the music style.“Sivuyile is part of the kwaito generation.”
Where does kwaito come from?
From Camtho, from Afrikaans kwaai (“cool”, literally “angry”).
Questions about saying kwaito
How do you pronounce kwaito?
Say KWY-toh. The American pronunciation is /ˈkwaɪtoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈkwaɪtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kwaito?
Kwaito has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY). Broken into parts: KWY · toh.
Is kwaito 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 /ˈkwaɪtəʊ/ (KWY-toh).