3 syllables: Mol, do, va. Stress on do.
mohl-DOH-vuh
/ˌmoʊˈldoʊvə/
Moldova is pronounced mohl-DOH-vuh (/ˌmoʊˈldoʊvə/). It has three syllables (Mol-do-va), with the stress on "do". Moldova is a landlocked Eastern European country northeast of the Balkans, bordered by Romania and Ukraine. The term refers to the former Principality of Moldavia and today the Republic of Moldova, known for its wine regions and cultural diversity. In pronunciation and usage, the name denotes national identity as well as geographic polity in English discourse.
nounMoldova is a landlocked Eastern European country northeast of the Balkans, bordered by Romania and Ukraine. The term refers to the former Principality of Moldavia and today the Republic of Moldova, known for its wine regions and cultural diversity. In pronunciation and usage, the name denotes national identity as well as geographic polity in English discourse.
How to Pronounce Moldova
"Moldova announced new trade agreements with several neighboring countries."
"She studied the history of Moldova and its language policies."
"The Moldova wine festival attracts visitors from across Europe."
Pronounce as /mɒlˈdoʊ.və/ in US and UK English, with the secondary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable sounds like ‘mol’ (as in molar) and the second syllable bears the primary stress: do-; end with ‘va’ like ‘vah’. The overall rhythm is three syllables: MOL-DO-VA. You can listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce and Forvo to hear regional nuance.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (MOL-do-va instead of mol-DO-va) and mispronouncing the final ‘va’ as ‘var’ or ‘vee-uh’. Another frequent issue is merging the second and third syllables, making it sound like ‘MOLD-uh-vuh’ with weak secondary stress. To correct: keep three distinct syllables, place primary stress on the middle syllable and end clearly with /və/ rather than /vaː/ or /var/. Listen to native clips for reference.
In US English you’ll hear /mɒlˈdoʊ.və/ with rhotic r-like vowel quality and a clear /ɒ/ in the first syllable. UK English often preserves the same three-syllable pattern but with slightly shorter, sharper vowels; the second syllable may be less reduced. Australian English follows similar patterns to UK/US but vowels can be more centralized and the final /ə/ can be schwa-like. In all cases stress remains on the second syllable: mol-DO-va.
The difficulty stems from the three-syllable structure with a mid-stressed second syllable and a final unstressed schwa-like /ə/. English listeners may expect ‘ Mold-uh-VA’ or misplace stress. The /l/ followed by /d/ in rapid speech can blur, and the final /va/ often becomes /və/ or /ə/ depending on accent. Practice by isolating each syllable, then blend with neutral timing to maintain correct stress and a crisp final /ə/.
The name contains a light, unstressed final syllable /və/ that many learners reduce or omit in error. Additionally, the second syllable carries strong emphasis, which can cause English speakers to slide into /ˈmɒl.dɒ.və/ if they’re not careful. Focusing on a clean /ˌdoʊ/ vowel in the middle and distinct final /və/ will make your pronunciation sound natural and country-accurate.
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The name Moldova derives from the Moldova River, on which the region historically developed. In the Middle Ages, the principality founded in the region was called Moldavia (Latin: Moldavia, from Latin form of the Slavic root ‘mel’/‘mold’ linked to murky waters or marshy land), distinguishing the area from regions named Moldavia elsewhere in Europe. The term passed into Romanian as Moldova and into many Western languages as Moldova/Moldavia. The earliest documented uses appear in medieval travel and diplomatic records concerning the Principality of Moldavia (14th–15th centuries). The modern state, the Republic of Moldova, emerged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, retaining the historic name while adopting Romanian as the official language and Chisinau as capital. In English, “Moldova” is the standard form; “Moldavia” is occasionally encountered historically or in older texts, though Moldova is now preferred politically and geographically. The shift reflects political boundaries and the preference of the state and international bodies for Moldova over Moldavia.
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Words that rhyme with "Moldova"
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