How to pronounce Nigeria
Say it like ny-JEER-ee-uh. Nigeria has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (JEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Nigeria. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ny
- JEER
- ee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nigeria pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- JEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Nigeria
American and British speakers say Nigeria in essentially the same way: /naɪˈdʒɪriə/ in the US and /naɪˈdʒɪəriə/ in the UK.
British respelling: ny-JEER-ee-uh.
What does Nigeria mean?
- A country in West Africa, south of the country of Niger. Official name: Federal Republic of Nigeria. Capital: Abuja. Largest city: Lagos. Currency: naira (₦).
Where does Nigeria come from?
From Niger + -ia (“place”), coined by British journalist Flora Shaw in 1897.
Words that rhyme with Nigeria
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Nigeria.
Questions about saying Nigeria
How do you pronounce Nigeria?
Say ny-JEER-ee-uh. The American pronunciation is /naɪˈdʒɪriə/. In British English it is /naɪˈdʒɪəriə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Nigeria?
Nigeria has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (JEER). Broken into parts: ny · JEER · ee · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say Nigeria the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /naɪˈdʒɪriə/ and the British form is /naɪˈdʒɪəriə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.