How to pronounce vuvuzela
Say it like voo-voo-ZAY-luh. Vuvuzela has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ZAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vuvuzela. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- voo
- voo
- ZAY
- luh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vuvuzela pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- vooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ZAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of vuvuzela
American and British speakers say vuvuzela in essentially the same way: /vuvuˈzeɪlə/ in the US and /vuːvuːˈzɛlə/ in the UK.
British respelling: voo-voo-ZEL-uh.
What does vuvuzela mean?
- A trumpet-shaped horn, now usually plastic, that produces a loud buzzing sound.
Where does vuvuzela come from?
Borrowed from Zulu vuvuzela (“to make a vu vu noise”), from the /vuː/ sound the horns make.
Words that rhyme with vuvuzela
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of vuvuzela.
Questions about saying vuvuzela
How do you pronounce vuvuzela?
Say voo-voo-ZAY-luh. The American pronunciation is /vuvuˈzeɪlə/. In British English it is /vuːvuːˈzɛlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vuvuzela?
Vuvuzela has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ZAY). Broken into parts: voo · voo · ZAY · luh.
Do Americans and Brits say vuvuzela the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vuvuˈzeɪlə/ and the British form is /vuːvuːˈzɛlə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.