How to pronounce Uruguay
Say it like YUR-ruh-gway. Uruguay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Uruguay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YUR
- ruh
- gway
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Uruguay pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YURSay this part loudest and longest.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gwayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of Uruguay
American and British speakers say Uruguay in essentially the same way: /ˈjɜrəˌɡweɪ/ in the US and /ˈjʊərəˌɡwaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOOR-ruh-gwy.
What does Uruguay mean?
- A country in South America. Official name: Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Capital and largest city: Montevideo.
- A river in southern South America
Questions about saying Uruguay
How do you pronounce Uruguay?
Say YUR-ruh-gway. The American pronunciation is /ˈjɜrəˌɡweɪ/. In British English it is /ˈjʊərəˌɡwaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Uruguay?
Uruguay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YUR). Broken into parts: YUR · ruh · gway.
Do Americans and Brits say Uruguay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjɜrəˌɡweɪ/ and the British form is /ˈjʊərəˌɡwaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.