How to pronounce Zimbabwe
Say it like zim-BAHB-way. Zimbabwe has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAHB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Zimbabwe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- zim
- BAHB
- way
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zimbabwe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- zimKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- BAHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- wayKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of Zimbabwe
American and British speakers say Zimbabwe in essentially the same way: /zɪmˈbɑbweɪ/ in the US and /zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: zim-BAHB-way.
What does Zimbabwe mean?
- a landlocked republic in south central Africa formerly called Rhodesia; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1980
Where does Zimbabwe come from?
From the Bantu word for a meeting house.
Questions about saying Zimbabwe
How do you pronounce Zimbabwe?
Say zim-BAHB-way. The American pronunciation is /zɪmˈbɑbweɪ/. In British English it is /zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAHB). Broken into parts: zim · BAHB · way.
Do Americans and Brits say Zimbabwe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /zɪmˈbɑbweɪ/ and the British form is /zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.