2 syllables: Dha, ka. Stress on Dha.
DAH-kuh
/ˈdɑkə/
Dhaka is pronounced DAH-kuh (/ˈdɑkə/). It has two syllables (Dha-ka), with the stress on "Dha". Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, pronounced as a proper noun referring to the metropolis. It denotes the political, economic, and cultural center of the country and is used in formal and informal contexts when naming the capital. The term carries municipal and national significance and is spoken with a clear initial consonant cluster and a steady, short final vowel.
nounDhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, pronounced as a proper noun referring to the metropolis. It denotes the political, economic, and cultural center of the country and is used in formal and informal contexts when naming the capital. The term carries municipal and national significance and is spoken with a clear initial consonant cluster and a steady, short final vowel.
"I arrived in Dhaka to attend the international conference."
"Dhaka's traffic can be chaotic, but the city is vibrant."
"She introduced me to a local guide from Dhaka."
Pronounce it as Dha-ka, with two syllables and primary stress on the first: /dɑːˈkɑː/ in US/UK/AU. Start with a low-open D sound, then a broad ah as in 'father', then a crisp k followed by a long a in second syllable but less forceful. Mouth slightly open, tongue low for /dɑː/, then glide into a clean /kɑː/ without extra consonants. Listen for the two-syllable rhythm and a non-rhotic, short final vowel in rapid speech. You can hear this in reputable pronunciation clips or on Pronounce.
Common errors: turning /dɑː/ into a simple short /da/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable. Some learners insert an extra vowel between /d/ and /ɑː/ or pronounce final /a/ as a hard 'uh' sound. Correction: keep /d/ as a clean stop, maintain a long /ɑː/ in both syllables, and place primary stress on the first syllable: Dha-ka. Use slow practice with a mirror to ensure mouth positions align with /d/ and /k/ without vowel intrusion.
US speakers often maintain /dɑːˈkɑː/ with strong /ɑː/ vowels, non-rhotic tendency leaves trailing vowel quiet. UK English similar pattern, but subtle vowel length and rhoticity are influenced by speaker. Australian English tends to shorten or elide vowels slightly in fast speech, so /dɑːˈkɑː/ may sound crisper with a lighter final vowel. Across all three, aim for two clear syllables, IPA /dɑːˈkɑː/ or /dəˈkɑː/ in casual speech, depending on speaker.
Difficulties include preserving two-syllable structure in fast speech, maintaining the long /ɑː/ vowels, and avoiding a triphthong effect or an overt drop in the final vowel. The city name also carries Bengali phonology: a less common, backward release of the /d/ followed by a broad /ɑː/ before /kɑː/. Practicing with minimal pairs and listening to native clips helps. IPA references like /dɑːˈkɑː/ clarify the intended sounds.
Dhaka uniquely features a strong two-syllable rhythm with a broad vowel in both syllables and a clear stop onset for /d/ and /k/. The Bengali origin preserves a distinctive open mid back vowel in each syllable and a less aggressive final vowel. The name’s prestige in global discourse makes precise pronunciation important for credibility; use IPA /dɑːˈkɑː/ and listen to native Bengali voice references when possible.
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US: /dɑːˈkɑː/ with a strong initial open back vowel; non-rhotic tendency means no extra 'r' sound; UK: similar pattern but slightly more clipped final vowel; AU: vowels can be quicker and crisper with a slight rise in intonation on the second syllable. Emphasize clear initial /d/ and final /kɑː/; keep lips rounded for /ɑː/ and avoid reducing to /ə/.
Dhaka traces its roots to ancient and medieval names for the region, with the modern spelling reflecting Bengali pronunciation. The city’s name appears in historical Persian and Urdu sources as Dhaka or Dacca, with the latter an anglicized form used during British colonial times. The Bengali pronunciation Dhaka features a two-syllable stress pattern in many local usages, though English speakers often place stress on the first syllable. The shift from Dacca to Dhaka in the 20th century corresponds with increased recognition of native Bengali transliteration standards. The earliest clear references to the city appear in 13th- to 16th-century travel writings and administrative texts describing the Bengal delta, where the area served as a regional hub before becoming the capital of East Pakistan and later Bangladesh. Over time, the name became emblematic of national identity, especially as the city grew into a major urban economy and the seat of government. Today, Dhaka is widely used internationally in English-language discourse and is recognized by its Bengali pronunciation in many academic and journalistic circles.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dhaka" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Dhaka"
-aca sounds
-aka sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
