How to pronounce wahine
Say it like wah-HEE-nay. Wahine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wahine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- wah
- HEE
- nay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wahine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- wahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- HEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nayKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of wahine
American and British speakers say wahine in essentially the same way: /wɑˈhineɪ/ in the US and /wɑːˈhiːnɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: wah-HEE-nih.
What does wahine mean?
- A Polynesian or Maori woman.
- A female surfer.
Where does wahine come from?
Borrowed from Māori wahine (“woman”), from Proto-Polynesian *fafine.
Questions about saying wahine
How do you pronounce wahine?
Say wah-HEE-nay. The American pronunciation is /wɑˈhineɪ/. In British English it is /wɑːˈhiːnɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wahine?
Wahine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HEE). Broken into parts: wah · HEE · nay.
Do Americans and Brits say wahine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɑˈhineɪ/ and the British form is /wɑːˈhiːnɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.