How to pronounce tsunami
Say it like tsoo-NAH-mee. Tsunami has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tsunami. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tsoo
- NAH
- mee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tsunami pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tsooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- NAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- meeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tsunami
American and British speakers say tsunami in essentially the same way: /tsuˈnɑmi/ in the US and /tsʊˈnɑːmi/ in the UK.
British respelling: tsuu-NAH-mee.
What does tsunami mean?
- a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption“a colossal tsunami destroyed the Minoan civilization in minutes”
Words that rhyme with tsunami
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tsunami.
Questions about saying tsunami
How do you pronounce tsunami?
Say tsoo-NAH-mee. The American pronunciation is /tsuˈnɑmi/. In British English it is /tsʊˈnɑːmi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tsunami?
Tsunami has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAH). Broken into parts: tsoo · NAH · mee.
Do Americans and Brits say tsunami the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tsuˈnɑmi/ and the British form is /tsʊˈnɑːmi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.