Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah, Malaysia, known for its coastal setting and proximity to Mount Kinabalu. In daily usage, the name refers to the urban area and government seat, with local pronunciation reflecting Malay phonology and Sabah’s multilingual context. The two-word proper noun is commonly rendered with stress on the second syllable of Kinabalu in informal speech, though formal usage may shift stress slightly depending on speaker.
Full pronunciation guide
