How to pronounce okapi
Say it like oh-KAH-pee. Okapi has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce okapi. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- KAH
- pee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Okapi pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of okapi
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-KAH-pee.
What does okapi mean?
- A ruminant (Okapia johnstoni) found in the rainforests of the Congo, related to the giraffe but with a much shorter neck, a reddish-brown coat, and zebra-like stripes on the hindquarters.
Where does okapi come from?
Borrowed from Mvuba okapi.
Words that rhyme with okapi
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of okapi.
Questions about saying okapi
How do you pronounce okapi?
Say oh-KAH-pee. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈkɑpi/. In British English it is /əʊˈkɑːpi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in okapi?
Okapi has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAH). Broken into parts: oh · KAH · pee.
Is okapi pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əʊˈkɑːpi/ (oh-KAH-pee).