How to pronounce Malawi
Say it like muh-LAH-wee. Malawi has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Malawi. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- LAH
- wee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Malawi pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- weeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Malawi
American and British speakers say Malawi in essentially the same way: /məˈlɑwi/ in the US and /məˈlɑːwi/ in the UK.
British respelling: muh-LAH-wee.
What does Malawi mean?
- A country in Southern Africa. Official name: Republic of Malawi.
Where does Malawi come from?
Said to be from Chichewa malawi (“flames”), after the appearance of the sunrise over Lake Malawi; also possibly from Maravi, the name of an early Malawi tribe, or from an old name for a lake.
Questions about saying Malawi
How do you pronounce Malawi?
Say muh-LAH-wee. The American pronunciation is /məˈlɑwi/. In British English it is /məˈlɑːwi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Malawi?
Malawi has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAH). Broken into parts: muh · LAH · wee.
Do Americans and Brits say Malawi the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /məˈlɑwi/ and the British form is /məˈlɑːwi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.