word
Japanese
tsunami
tsoo-NAH-mee
tsʊˈnɑːmiListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
tsunami
Sounds like
Say 'tsoo-NAH-mee' — the 'ts' at the start is a genuine 'ts' sound.
Dictionary meaning
A series of ocean waves caused by a large underwater disturbance such as an earthquake.
History and origin
Japanese — 'tsu' (harbour) + 'nami' (wave).
Examples
- The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
Common mispronunciations
soo-NAH-meeTSOO-nah-mee
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