How to pronounce Lagos
Say it like LAY-gaws. Lagos has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Lagos. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAY
- gaws
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lagos pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- gawsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of Lagos
American and British speakers say Lagos in essentially the same way: /ˈleɪɡɔs/ in the US and /ˈleɪɡɒs/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAY-gos.
What does Lagos mean?
- The largest city and former capital of Nigeria, in Lagos State.
- A state of Nigeria in the South West geopolitical zone. Capital: Ikeja. Largest city: Lagos City.
Where does Lagos come from?
Borrowed from Portuguese Lagos, either from lagos (literally “lakes”) or after the Portuguese city.
Questions about saying Lagos
How do you pronounce Lagos?
Say LAY-gaws. The American pronunciation is /ˈleɪɡɔs/. In British English it is /ˈleɪɡɒs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Lagos?
Lagos has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY). Broken into parts: LAY · gaws.
Do Americans and Brits say Lagos the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈleɪɡɔs/ and the British form is /ˈleɪɡɒs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.