How to pronounce Nicaragua
Say it like nik-uh-RAH-gwuh. Nicaragua has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Nicaragua. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nik
- uh
- RAH
- gwuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nicaragua pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nikGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- gwuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Nicaragua
American and British speakers say Nicaragua in essentially the same way: /ˌnɪkəˈrɑɡwə/ in the US and /ˌnɪkəˈræɡwə/ in the UK.
British respelling: nik-uh-RAG-wuh.
What does Nicaragua mean?
- A country in Central America. Official name: Republic of Nicaragua. Capitalː Managua.
- A lake in Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America.
Where does Nicaragua come from?
Borrowed from Spanish Nicaragua, from Nicarao (“a native name”) + Spanish agua (“water”).
Questions about saying Nicaragua
How do you pronounce Nicaragua?
Say nik-uh-RAH-gwuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɪkəˈrɑɡwə/. In British English it is /ˌnɪkəˈræɡwə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAH). Broken into parts: nik · uh · RAH · gwuh.
Do Americans and Brits say Nicaragua the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌnɪkəˈrɑɡwə/ and the British form is /ˌnɪkəˈræɡwə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.