How to pronounce putonghua
Say it like poo-tawngh-WAH. Putonghua has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce putonghua. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- poo
- tawngh
- WAH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Putonghua pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- tawnghKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- WAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of putonghua
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: poo-tongh-WAH.
What does putonghua mean?
- Alternative letter-case form of Putonghua.
Words that rhyme with putonghua
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of putonghua.
Questions about saying putonghua
How do you pronounce putonghua?
Say poo-tawngh-WAH. The American pronunciation is /ˌputɔŋhˈwɑ/. In British English it is /ˌpuːtɒŋhˈwɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in putonghua?
Putonghua has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WAH). Broken into parts: poo · tawngh · WAH.
Is putonghua pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌpuːtɒŋhˈwɑː/ (poo-tongh-WAH).