4 syllables: Is, la, ma, bad. Stress on la.
is-LAM-uh-bad
/ˌɪˈslæməbæd/
Islamabad is pronounced is-LAM-uh-bad (/ˌɪˈslæməbæd/). It has four syllables (Is-la-ma-bad), with the stress on "la". Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, founded in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the political and administrative center. It is known for its orderly layout, green spaces, and government institutions. When spoken, the name is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, reflecting local Urdu pronunciation that blends English phonetics with South Asian phonology.
nounIslamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, founded in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the political and administrative center. It is known for its orderly layout, green spaces, and government institutions. When spoken, the name is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, reflecting local Urdu pronunciation that blends English phonetics with South Asian phonology.
How to Pronounce Islamabad
"We visited Islamabad to attend a government conference."
"The Islamabad skyline features the iconic Faisal Mosque."
"She spent a week in Islamabad researching local governance."
Break it as I-sla-ma-bad with primary stress on the third syllable: is-LA-ma-bad. IPA US: ɪzˈlɑːməˌbæd, UK/AU: ɪzˈlɑːməbæd. Start with a short “i” as in it, then a low back vowel in LA, a schwa-like or light ‘a’ in ma, and a final with ‘bad’ where the b is clear and the a is like ‘a’ in cat in many accents. Audio reference: listen to credible pronunciation resources or BBC/VOA streams for natural rhythm.
Mistakes include over-syllabicating or under-emphasizing the -la- and -ba- segments, and confusing the final -bad with -bad as in ‘bad’ vs ‘baad’ in Urdu. Correction: keep is-LA-ma-bad with a clear second syllable primary stress, pronounce the final ‘bad’ with a short, clipped ‘a’ and a crisp ‘b’ onset. Ensure the /l/ is light, not a heavy guttural. IPA cues: ɪzˈlɑːməˌbæd.
In US English you’ll hear a stronger /ɪ/ on the first vowel and a lighter /æ/ on the final syllable; UK/AU tend to smooth the vowels with a closer /ə/ or /æ/ depending on speaker. The second syllable typically bears primary stress (LA), while the rest are quicker. Rhotic differences affect the r-coloring of the preceding syllable less relevant here, but non-rhotic UK speech can display a more centralized final vowel.
The challenge lies in coordinating a three-syllable pattern with a mid-to-low central vowel; the sequence is-LA-ma-bad requires precise vowel quality in each segment, plus a clear /b/ at the end with a short, crisp final vowel. Urdu speaker-influenced syllable timing can also impact English pronunciation, making the second syllable feel longer. Focus on balanced syllable timing and crisp bilabial closure for -bad.
The name is a proper noun built from a compound with a culturally loaded suffix -abad, meaning a populated or cultivated place. The three-syllable pattern is distinct: is-la-ma-bad, with a predictable stress on the second syllable, and a final 'bad' that should be short and crisp, not drawn out. You’ll often hear a subtle Urdu-influenced vowel length in fast speech that can shift from the ideal IPA values.
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Islamabad’s name is a compound constructed to reflect its purpose as a planned capital. The city was conceived in the 1950s and designed to replace Karachi as Pakistan’s federal capital, with zoning that separated government districts from residential zones. The Arabic- and Urdu-influenced element ‘-abad’ (from Persian origin) means ‘cultivated place’ or ‘city of.’ The root Islamabad combines ‘Islami-’ (related to Islam, reflecting national identity) with ‘-abad,’ a suffix common in South-Central Asian toponyms. First widely used in official discourse around the city’s founding and naming in the late 1950s–1960s, the term became entrenched as the capital’s proper noun in Pakistani governance and media. Over time, Islamabad has grown from a planned administrative hub to a culturally recognizable capital with a distinctive, modernist riverine crescent layout.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Islamabad" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Islamabad" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Islamabad"
-bad sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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