3 syllables: Di, wa, li. Stress on wa.
diw-AH-lee
/dɪˈwɑli/
Diwali is pronounced diw-AH-lee (/dɪˈwɑli/). It has three syllables (Di-wa-li), with the stress on "wa". Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights, celebrated with fireworks, lamps, and family gatherings. The term refers to rows of lights (diyas) symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Commonly observed across South Asia and by diaspora communities worldwide, the name and celebration are deeply tied to regional traditions and timing based on the lunar calendar.
nounDiwali is a Hindu festival of lights, celebrated with fireworks, lamps, and family gatherings. The term refers to rows of lights (diyas) symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Commonly observed across South Asia and by diaspora communities worldwide, the name and celebration are deeply tied to regional traditions and timing based on the lunar calendar.
- You often misplace the stress, placing emphasis on the first syllable. Fix by practicing the di-WA-li pattern with slower tempo and stressing the middle syllable. - The second vowel often drifts toward a more open or central vowel; practice with a mirror to keep lips rounded or relaxed as required by your language background. - The /w/ glide can be treated as a vowel; keep it light and quick, not a separate syllable. - Don’t omit the final /i/; end with a crisp, short /i/ rather than a neutral vowel. - When you’re nervous or thinking in your native language, you may default to /diˈαli/ or /dəˈwɑːli/. Practice with IPA-guided phrases to retrain your mouth.
"We’re planning a big Diwali party with lanterns, rangoli, and sweet treats."
"Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama in many parts of India and is a time for family gatherings."
"The neighborhood hosts a Diwali fair with lights, music, and fireworks."
Diwali is pronounced dee-WAH-lee in many English-speaking contexts. IPA: US/UK /dɪˈwɒli/; some speakers use /dɪˈvɑːli/ or /diˈvali/ depending on influence from regional languages. The primary stress falls on the second syllable. Mouth positions: start with a short /d/ with the tongue behind the upper teeth, then a reduced /ɪ/ or /i/ vowel, then a rounded or open central /w/ glide, then an open/low vowel in the second syllable, and finish with /li/ where /l/ is light and the final /i/ is a short, clear vowel. For clarity, think “dee-WAH-lee.” Audio reference: YouTube pronunciation guides or Forvo entries for Diwali often offer native-speaker variants.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the first syllable (DI-wah-lee) instead of second (di-WA-lee). 2) Pronouncing the second vowel as a hard /a/ as in dad, instead of a short /ɒ/ or /ə/ depending on listener accent. 3) Dropping the /w/ or treating it as /dɪvəli/; keep the /w/ as a light, semi-vocalized glide. Corrections: place stress on the second syllable, use /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ like in ‘cot’ for the second syllable’s vowel in many British pronunciations, but in US usage /ɒ/ can drift toward /ɑ/ or /ə/ depending on speaker. Mos align with di-WAH-lee and keep the final /li/ crisp.” ,
US: /dɪˈwɒli/ with more rhoticity and a rounded /ɒ/ in the second syllable. UK: /dɪˈwɔːli/ or /dɪˈwɒli/, often less pronounced /ɪ/ and longer /ɔː/ on the second syllable. Australian: /dɪˈwɒli/ or /dɪˈwɔːli/, with vowel quality shifting toward /ɒ/ and a slight non-rhotic tendency in some speakers. Across all, the crucial element is the secondary stress on the second syllable and a clear /w/ glide after /dɪ/; regional vowel shifts affect the second syllable’s vowel height and backness. IPA references: US /dɪˈwɒli/, UK /dɪˈwɔːli/, AU /dɪˈwɒli/.
Key challenges: the /ɪ/ vs /ɪ/ or /i/ in the first syllable can drift in non-native speech; the second syllable houses a vowel that can shift between /ɒ/ and /ɔː/ depending on accent, which changes the perceived accuracy. The /w/ is a semi-vocal glide that must be voiced but not strongly released, or it becomes a hard vowel. Finally, keeping stress on the second syllable and not overemphasizing the first requires careful pace, especially when speaking quickly in conversational contexts.
There are no silent letters in Diwali; all letters contribute. The key is articulation: /d/ as a voiced alveolar stop, /ɪ/ or /i/ as a short vowel, /w/ as a semi-vocal glide, /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on accent for the second syllable vowel, and /li/ with a clear /l/ and high-front /i/. The 'di-' prefix may sound like dee- or dih-, depending on speaker, but standard is /dɪ/ or /di/. The main challenge is the second syllable vowel’s height and backness, not a silent letter.
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- US: /dɪˈwɒli/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and stronger första syllable; ensure the /ɪ/ is a short, tight vowel and use a crisp /w/ before the final /li/. - UK: /dɪˈwɔːli/ widely uses a longer second vowel; maintain a rounded lip shape for /ɔː/ and avoid overexpanding the first syllable. - AU: /dɪˈwɒli/ or /dɪˈwɔːli/, with less rhoticity in some speakers; keep the second vowel open and back but not overly rounded. - IPA references: /dɪˈwɒli/ (US/UK variants), /dɪˈwɔːli/ (UK alternative), /dɪˈwɒli/ (AU). - General tips: keep the second syllable steady and reduce vowel length on the first if your native language has different stress patterns. Practice with minimal pairs to sharpen the glide.
Diwali, also called Deepavali, derives from the Sanskrit words dīpa meaning ‘lamp’ and wāla meaning ‘a row or series’ (dīpāvalā). The earliest recognizable form appears in classical Sanskrit literature as a term describing rows of lamps lit during autumn festivals. The name entered vernacular usage in various languages of the Indian subcontinent as regional communities celebrated a festival of lights with lamps and celebratory rituals. The anglicized Diwali emerged during British-era transcription of Indian traditions and gradually consolidated in English-language writing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time, Deepavali became more common in Tamil and Telugu-speaking regions, while Diwali gained traction in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Punjabi communities as the international name for the festival. In diaspora communities (Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, the Caribbean, the US and UK), both spellings and pronunciations adapted to local phonology, yet the core concept—light overcoming darkness—remains central to the festival’s meaning. The precise date varies by lunar calendar, but the observed rituals—lamps, fireworks, sharing sweets, prayer sessions—remain consistent across cultures.
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Words that rhyme with "Diwali"
-ali sounds
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