How to pronounce Soweto
Say it like soh-AY-toh. Soweto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Soweto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- soh
- AY
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soweto pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- AYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Soweto
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: soh-AY-toh.
What does Soweto mean?
- a large collection of African townships to the southwest of Johannesburg in South Africa; inhabited solely by Black Africans
Words that rhyme with Soweto
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Soweto.
Questions about saying Soweto
How do you pronounce Soweto?
Say soh-AY-toh. The American pronunciation is /soʊˈeɪtoʊ/. In British English it is /səʊˈeɪtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Soweto?
Soweto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AY). Broken into parts: soh · AY · toh.
Is Soweto 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 /səʊˈeɪtəʊ/ (soh-AY-toh).