3 syllables: Bu, run, di. Stress on run.
bur-UHN-dee
/bɚˈʌndi/
Burundi is pronounced bur-UHN-dee (/bɚˈʌndi/). It has three syllables (Bu-run-di), with the stress on "run". Burundi is a landlocked East African nation known for its lakes, hills, and culture. As a proper noun referring to a country, it is used in formal writing and journalism, with stress typically on the first syllable. Correct pronunciation is crucial for clear communication in international contexts and travel.
nounBurundi is a landlocked East African nation known for its lakes, hills, and culture. As a proper noun referring to a country, it is used in formal writing and journalism, with stress typically on the first syllable. Correct pronunciation is crucial for clear communication in international contexts and travel.
- Common phonetic challenges include: 1) Misplacing primary stress on the second syllable (bur-UN-di) instead of BUR-un-di; 2) Blurring the boundary between syllables leading to BUR-uhn-dee; 3) Using an overly long middle vowel or an overly long final consonant 'ee'. Corrections: practice tri-syllable segmentation—Bur-/un-/di—pausing between syllables, stress reinforcement on BUR, and a crisp final 'dee' with a short, forward tongue position. Regularly articulate each syllable slowly, then gradually speed up while maintaining crisp boundaries. Visuals of mouth position can aid learning; record and compare to native references to ensure the middle syllable remains light and the final syllable lands distinctly.
"The president of Burundi gave a televised address."
"Many NGOs operate in Burundi to support health and education."
"Burundi's official languages include Kirundi and French."
Burundi is pronounced as BUR-oon-dee, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US: ˌbɜːˈr(j)un.di, UK/AU: ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di. Start with a dark, back vowel in the first syllable, then a light, unstressed second syllable and a final clear 'dee' sound. Audio reference: consult standard pronunciation voices on Cambridge/Oxford or Forvo entries for Burundi.
Common errors include blending the second and third syllables too quickly, producing a single BUR-UN-DEE without distinct di; misplacing the stress on the second syllable (bur-UN-di); and using a flat or Americanized 'u' in the first syllable, making it sound like 'BUR-uhn-dee' instead of a precise 'BUR-oon-dee' or 'BUR-ûn-dee' depending on the dialect. Correction: hold the first syllable longer, ensure the second is lighter, and finish with a crisp 'dee'.
US English tends toward a rounded 'u' in the first syllable and a slightly longer middle vowel; UK English often compresses the middle vowel toward a schwa-like sound and keeps a crisp final 'dee'; Australian English sits between, with a slightly flatter first vowel and a more centralized mid vowel. IPA cues: US ˌbɜːˈr(j)un.di, UK ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di, AU ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di. Across accents, rhotics and vowel quality shape the middle syllable noticeably.
The difficulty centers on the three-syllable rhythm and the mid syllable with a short, unstressed vowel that can blur in rapid speech. Learners often misplace the primary stress or merge the middle and final syllables. Focus on distinct syllable segmentation: Bur-/un-/di, keep the middle vowel compact, and finish with a short, precise 'dee' to preserve overall clarity.
Note that in some speakers the 'r' may be lightly tapped and the middle vowel can soften toward a near-schwa, especially in fast speech. Native Kirundi-inflected pronunciation will preserve a crisp first syllable with less vowel lengthening in the second, and a final 'di' that lands quickly. IPA anchors help: US ˌbɜːˈr(j)un.di, UK/AU ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di.
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- US: rhotic, richer 'r' in the middle; UK: non-rhotic, weaker middle vowel and crisper final 'di'; AU: similar to US but with a slightly more centralized mid-vowel and flatter 'u'. Use IPA: US ˌbɜːˈr(j)un.di, UK ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di, AU ˌbɜːˈrʌn.di. Vowel shifts: in US, the 'u' in 'Bur' often a back rounded vowel; in UK/AU, the middle vowel may move toward a centralized or near-front position. Consonants: 'r' is pronounced in US; in many UK varieties, the 'r' is less pronounced or non-rhotic, affecting the flow. Practice by comparing minimal pairs: Bur- vs. buh- vs. burr-; record yourself saying in American, British, and Australian tones to observe the shifts.
Burundi derives its name from the Rundi, or Kirundi-speaking people who inhabit the region around Lake Tanganika. The term evolved from the historic kingdom of Burundi and later the colonial-era assignments that mapped the area as part of Ruanda-Urundi under Belgian administration. In Kirundi, Burundi references the people and land associated with the Bantu-speaking communities in central Africa. The modern nation-state Burundi gained independence in 1962, and the English rendering solidified in international diplomacy. The name’s etymology reflects ethnic and geographic identifiers rather than a single descriptive word, underscoring communal lineage and territorial identity. Over time, the usage expanded from cultural and tribal contexts to a political entity recognized by the United Nations and global media. The evolution of the name mirrors broader regional histories of migration, colonial boundaries, and post-colonial state formation. The phonetic form, BUR-un-dee, emphasizes stress on the first syllable, with “Bur” as a closed syllable and “un” as a unstressed mid-vowel in many dialects, while the final “di” carries light secondary emphasis in natural speech. First known written attestations appear in colonial era maps and treaties, with Kirundi-speaking communities tracing the term through centuries of oral tradition into written form.
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Words that rhyme with "Burundi"
-rdi sounds
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