3 syllables: ko, re, a. Stress on re.
kaw-REE-uh
/ˌkɔˈɹiə/
korea is pronounced kaw-REE-uh (/ˌkɔˈɹiə/). It has three syllables (ko-re-a), with the stress on "re". Korea refers to the East Asian peninsula and its associated countries, North Korea and South Korea; in common usage it denotes the Korean Peninsula or the nation of South Korea when context implies a modern state. The term originates from the names of ancient Korean kingdoms and has been adopted into many languages to describe the region and its people, language, and culture.
Korea refers to the East Asian peninsula and its associated countries, North Korea and South Korea; in common usage it denotes the Korean Peninsula or the nation of South Korea when context implies a modern state. The term originates from the names of ancient Korean kingdoms and has been adopted into many languages to describe the region and its people, language, and culture.
"She studied the history of Korea and its evolving politics."
"During the trip, he sampled traditional Korean foods and visited Seoul."
"The Korean language has unique sounds that differ from neighboring languages in Korea's peninsula."
Pronounce as ku-REE-uh in many English contexts, with primary stress on the second syllable: /kəˈriː.ə/ or /koʊˈriː.ə/ depending on the speaker. For careful enunciation, start with a light 'ku' or 'ko' and roll into a clear 'ree' vowel, finishing with a soft 'uh.' Listen to native pronunciations for the exact rhythm: /kəˈriː.ə/.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (KR-ee-uh) instead of the second, and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short 'i' sound. Corrective tips: use a clear vowel in the second syllable: 'ree' as in 'reed,' and end with a relaxed 'uh' to avoid a clipped final. Emphasize the rhythm: ko-REE-a, not KO-ra or ko-RE-a in quick speech.
In US and UK, stress commonly lands on the second syllable: ku-REE-uh or ko-REE-uh. US tends to be more rhotic with a slightly rhotic 'r' in the first syllable; UK often features non-rhotic tendencies, affecting the 'r' sound, making it softer. Australian English is similar to UK but with more distinct vowel quality; the second syllable 'ree' tends to be a clear long vowel. Overall, the second syllable remains prominent across accents.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the second syllable, and the light final 'a' which can be reduced or elided in fast speech. The central vowel in the first syllable plus a clear long 'ee' in the second can challenge non-native speakers. Mastery requires practicing the transition between /k/ or /ɡ/ variants, the elongated /iː/ or /i/ in the second syllable, and a relaxed final schwa or /ə/.
The word presents a non-initial stress pattern with a diphthong-like 'ee' in the second syllable; it also often undergoes subtle vowel reduction in casual speech, especially in American English, where the first syllable can become a schwa and the second syllable carries most of the weight. A unique aspect is maintaining the 'ree' quality distinctly from 'row-ree-a' mispronunciations.
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The name Korea derives from the Goryeo (Koryŏ) dynasty (918–1392), a Korean kingdom whose name itself likely traces to the ancient Goguryeo state. The term was Latinized as Corea in the 16th century and later anglicized to Korea in English by the 18th century. The Goryeo/Koryŏ state used the endonym Goryeo, which is believed to be linked to the old Korean word for 'high' or 'highness' and possibly to the Korean kingdom Goguryeo. The modern term Korea thus reflects a medieval monarchy’s name that became generalized to describe the peninsula and subsequently the two sovereign states on it. The shift from Corea to Korea in English occurred through transliteration standardization in the 19th–20th centuries, aligning with the Hepburn-inspired romanization movements and Western scholarly texts. First known use in English literature appears in the 17th–18th centuries as Corea, then Korea became dominant in the 20th century as national identities crystallized post-colonial period.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "korea" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "korea" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "korea"
-rea sounds
-ora sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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