How to pronounce kwashiorkor
Say it like kwah-shee-OR-ker. Kwashiorkor has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kwashiorkor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kwah
- shee
- OR
- ker
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kwashiorkor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kwahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sheeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- kerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of kwashiorkor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kwosh-ee-AW-kaw.
What does kwashiorkor mean?
- A form of malnutrition, found in children, caused by dietary insufficiency of protein in combination with a high-carbohydrate diet.
Where does kwashiorkor come from?
From Ga kwašiɔkɔ, kwàṣìɔkɔ́ (“the sickness the older child gets when the next baby is born”).
Words that rhyme with kwashiorkor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kwashiorkor.
Questions about saying kwashiorkor
How do you pronounce kwashiorkor?
Say kwah-shee-OR-ker. The American pronunciation is /ˌkwɑʃiˈɔrkɚ/. In British English it is /kwɒʃiˈɔːkɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kwashiorkor?
Kwashiorkor has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OR). Broken into parts: kwah · shee · OR · ker.
Is kwashiorkor 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 /kwɒʃiˈɔːkɔː/ (kwosh-ee-AW-kaw).