How to pronounce okina
Say it like oh-KEE-nuh. Okina has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce okina. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- KEE
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Okina 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.
- KEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of okina
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-KEE-nuh.
What does okina mean?
- The Hawaiian apostrophe-like letter (ʻ ) used to indicate the glottal stop consonant.
Where does okina come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian ʻokina (“cutting off, separation”).
Words that rhyme with okina
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of okina.
Questions about saying okina
How do you pronounce okina?
Say oh-KEE-nuh. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈkinə/. In British English it is /əʊˈkiːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in okina?
Okina has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KEE). Broken into parts: oh · KEE · nuh.
Is okina 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 /əʊˈkiːnə/ (oh-KEE-nuh).