English pronunciation · Words Starting with T
Tsunami Pronunciation
Tsunami is pronounced soo-NAH-mee, IPA /suˈnɑmi/.
soo-NAH-mee
US /suˈnɑmi/ · UK /tsuːˈnɑːmi/
Syllables: soo · NAH · mee (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
noun: A very large sea wave caused by an earthquake or underwater landslide.
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Tsunami in a Sentence
- The tsunami reached the coast forty minutes later.
- Warning buoys detect a tsunami before it comes ashore.
- A tsunami is not the same thing as a storm surge.
Common Mispronunciations of Tsunami
Not tuh-soo-NAH-mee
The t and s in Japanese form one sound at the very front of the word, and English speakers usually drop the t altogether. Inserting a vowel between them adds a syllable that is not there.
Not tsoo-NA-mee
The middle vowel is the open ah of father, held long. A short a makes the word sound clipped.
Tip: Three syllables with the beat in the middle. Americans generally say soo-NAH-mee; British speakers often keep the ts.
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