How to pronounce Somalia
Say it like suh-MAH-lee-uh. Somalia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Somalia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- MAH
- lee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Somalia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- leeKeep 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 Somalia
American and British speakers say Somalia in essentially the same way: /səˈmɑliə/ in the US and /səʊˈmɑːliə/ in the UK.
British respelling: soh-MAH-lee-uh.
What does Somalia mean?
- A country in East Africa, in the Horn of Africa. Official name: Federal Republic of Somalia. Capital and largest city: Mogadishu.
Where does Somalia come from?
Borrowed from Somali Soomaaliya, equivalent to Somali + -ia.
Questions about saying Somalia
How do you pronounce Somalia?
Say suh-MAH-lee-uh. The American pronunciation is /səˈmɑliə/. In British English it is /səʊˈmɑːliə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Somalia?
Somalia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAH). Broken into parts: suh · MAH · lee · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say Somalia the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈmɑliə/ and the British form is /səʊˈmɑːliə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.