How to pronounce Paraguay
Say it like PER-uh-gway. Paraguay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Paraguay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PER
- uh
- gway
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Paraguay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gwayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of Paraguay
American and British speakers say Paraguay in essentially the same way: /ˈpɛrəˌɡweɪ/ in the US and /ˈpærəˌɡwaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAR-uh-gwy.
What does Paraguay mean?
- A country in South America. Official name: Republic of Paraguay. Capital and largest city: Asunción.
- A river in South America that flows into the Paraná, through Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina; in full, the Paraguay River.
Where does Paraguay come from?
Borrowed from Spanish Paraguay, from Classical Guarani Paraguaĭ (“Paraguay River”), from paraguâ (“feather crown”) + ĭ (“river”).
Questions about saying Paraguay
How do you pronounce Paraguay?
Say PER-uh-gway. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɛrəˌɡweɪ/. In British English it is /ˈpærəˌɡwaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Paraguay?
Paraguay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER). Broken into parts: PER · uh · gway.
Do Americans and Brits say Paraguay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɛrəˌɡweɪ/ and the British form is /ˈpærəˌɡwaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.