How to Pronounce "tsunami"
The correct pronunciation of "tsunami" is tsoo-NAH-mee /tsuːˈnɑːmi/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "soo-NAA-mi" habit for good.
tsunami
/tsuːˈnɑːmi/A very large ocean wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
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Record yourself saying “tsunami” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "soo-NAA-mi" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "soo-NAA-mi" with a flat vowel, or "tuh-soo-nami" splitting the 'ts'. | tsoo-NAH-mee /tsuːˈnɑːmi/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (NAH). |
How Do You Pronounce "tsunami"?
"tsunami" is pronounced tsoo-NAH-mee /tsuːˈnɑːmi/. The stress is on the second syllable (NAH). As a noun, it means a very large ocean wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
The 'ts' is a single blended sound at the start and the stress is on 'NAH': tsoo-NAH-mee.
Note: US often /suːˈnɑːmi/ ("soo-NAH-mee") drops the initial 't'; the British form keeps the 'ts' blend.
Say "tsunami" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
tsoo-NAH-mee — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (NAH). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The 'ts' is a single blended sound at the start and the stress is on 'NAH': tsoo-NAH-mee.
Blend and repeat
Now say "tsunami" at normal speed: tsoo-NAH-mee. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "tsunami" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
cats → tsoo-NAH-mee
The 'ts' is the blend at the end of 'cats'.
NOT soo-NAA-mi — tsoo-NAH-mee
Keep the 'ts' blend at the start.
Say at speed: "They issued a tsunami warning."
Stress the 'NAH' beat.
Why "tsunami" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian speakers either drop the 't' or split it from the 's', but in this Japanese loanword 'ts' is one crisp blend.
Tip: Blend 't' and 's' into one sound: tsoo-NAH-mee, stress on 'NAH'.
Hear “tsunami” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
The tsunami hit the coast.
They issued a tsunami warning.
A tsunami followed the quake.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "tsunami" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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