5 syllables: Bru, nei Da, ru, ssa, lam. Stress on nei Da.
broo-NAY-duh-roo-suh-lam
/bruːˈneɪ dəruːsəlæm/
Brunei Darussalam is pronounced broo-NAY-duh-roo-suh-lam (/bruːˈneɪ dəruːsəlæm/). It has five syllables (Bru-nei Da-ru-ssa-lam), with the stress on "nei Da". Brunei Darussalam is the official name of the Southeast Asian nation Brunei, commonly referred to as Brunei or Negara Brunei Darussalam in formal contexts. The term combines two Malay-derived components: Brunei (the country) and Darussalam (a honorific meaning 'abode of peace'), reflecting a constitutional framework and cultural heritage. Together they denote the sovereign state and its royal-administrative identity in formal usage.
nounBrunei Darussalam is the official name of the Southeast Asian nation Brunei, commonly referred to as Brunei or Negara Brunei Darussalam in formal contexts. The term combines two Malay-derived components: Brunei (the country) and Darussalam (a honorific meaning 'abode of peace'), reflecting a constitutional framework and cultural heritage. Together they denote the sovereign state and its royal-administrative identity in formal usage.
"I visited Brunei Darussalam to study its rich biodiversity and Islamic heritage."
"The ambassador delivered a speech on Brunei Darussalam's development plans at the regional conference."
"Brunei Darussalam has a small population but a high standard of living."
Break it into two words: Brunei /bruːˈneɪ/ and Darussalam /dæˈruːsəˌlɑːm/. Primary stress on the second syllable of Brunei and on the first syllable of Darussalam, with Darussalam as four syllables. In careful speech you’ll articulate Brunei as BRU- nay, and Darussalam as dah-ROO-sah-lahm; expect slight vowel sharpening in fast speech. Reference IPA: US /bruːˈneɪ dɑːˈruːsəˌlɑːm/; UK /bruːˈneɪ dɑːˈruːsəˌlɑːm/; AU similar: /bruːˈniː dɑːˈruːsəˌlɑːm/.
Common errors: flattening Brunei to a single syllable (bru-ny), misplacing stress on the first syllable; pronouncing Darussalam as a single word or misplacing stress (dar-oo-sah-lam vs dah-ROO-sah-lahm). Corrections: stress the second syllable of Brunei, ensure Darussalam is segmented into four syllables with the /dæ-ˈruː-sə-lɑːm/ pattern, and keep final /m/ clearly nasalized. Practice with IPA scaffolding and speed control.
US tends to strong-voicing on Brunei’s second syllable: /bruːˈneɪ/. UK often features a slightly clipped /ˈbrjuːn/ but commonly keeps /bruːˈneɪ/. AU may lengthen vowels and use a broader /ɑː/ in Darussalam’s second syllable. Differences lie mainly in Brunei’s /eɪ/ realization and Darussalam’s vowel quality; rhoticity is more pronounced in American English, affecting the flow between words. IPA guides shown reflect general tendencies rather than fixed rules.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic Arabic-derived Darussalam and the diphthong in Brunei’s second syllable. The two-word boundary requires careful linkage, and the final /m/ with a light nasal tone can be mispronounced. Also, non-native exposure to Malay-Arabic hybrids can make the sequence feel unfamiliar. Focus on segmenting Brunei (BRU-NEI) and Darussalam (DA-RU-SA-LAHM) with steady rhythm.
A distinctive feature is preserving the two-word boundary with appropriate stress: BRU-NEI DAR- US-SA-LAM where Darussalam receives initial emphasis after the own syllable. Keeping the final nasal /m/ clear and not letting it blend with the following phrase helps; in connected speech you may hear small reductions in the first part of Darussalam, but the primary stress should remain on /neɪ/ and /ruː/ respectively.
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The name Brunei originates from the Malay word Brunei (そn). The term Darussalam derives from Arabic: Dar = house or abode, and as-Salam = peace, forming 'abode of peace.' The combined form Brunei Darussalam is the country’s formal Malay-Arabic hybrid designation used in diplomatic and ceremonial contexts; it emphasizes sovereignty, governance, and cultural-religious identity. Historically, the sultanate of Brunei emerged as a regional power by the 14th century, with Malay and Islam influences shaping its governance and language. In modern times, the term Darussalam was adopted to reflect an alignment with Islamic identity and state formation under the modern constitutional framework established in the late 20th century. First known written use in formal state documents and diplomacy appeared in the mid-20th century as governments and international organizations adopted the formal name for official references, including treaties and bi-lateral communications. The combination remains prominent in official signage, legal texts, education, and international diplomacy, signaling both the nation’s heritage and its contemporary constitutional status.
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Words that rhyme with "Brunei Darussalam"
-lam sounds
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