How to pronounce Tonga
Say it like TAHN-guh. Tonga has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAHN).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Tonga. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈtɑnɡə/TAHN-guh
UK British/ˈtɒŋə/TONG-uh
- TAHN
- guh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tonga pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Tonga
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TONG-uh.
What does Tonga mean?
noun
- a monarchy on a Polynesian archipelago in the South Pacific; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1970
- the language of the Tongan people of south central Africa (Zambia and Rhodesia)
Questions about saying Tonga
How do you pronounce Tonga?
Say TAHN-guh. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑnɡə/. In British English it is /ˈtɒŋə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Tonga?
Tonga has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAHN). Broken into parts: TAHN · guh.
Is Tonga 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 /ˈtɒŋə/ (TONG-uh).