3 syllables: Nai, ro, bi. Stress on ro.
neye-ROH-bee
/ˌnaɪˈɹoʊbi/
Nairobi is pronounced neye-ROH-bee (/ˌnaɪˈɹoʊbi/). It has three syllables (Nai-ro-bi), with the stress on "ro". Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, an African hub known for its skyline and national parks. As a noun, it denotes the city itself and is used in contexts ranging from travel to business. The pronunciation carries stress patterns and vowel qualities characteristic of East African place names, making precise articulation important for clear communication.
nounNairobi is the capital city of Kenya, an African hub known for its skyline and national parks. As a noun, it denotes the city itself and is used in contexts ranging from travel to business. The pronunciation carries stress patterns and vowel qualities characteristic of East African place names, making precise articulation important for clear communication.
- You might stress the first syllable (NAI-robi) instead of the second (na-ROH-bee). To fix: keep the primary beat on the second syllable and give the first syllable a lighter rise. - The middle 'ro' can be misarticulated as a pure 'ro' without a distinct mid vowel; work on making it a clear 'ro' with a precise vowel quality (US: /roʊ/; UK/AU may lean toward /ɒr/). - The final 'i' can be pronounced as 'ee' too long; end with a short, light 'ee' sound. Tip: finish with a crisp, short 'bi' to mark the end.
How to Pronounce Nairobi
"We booked a flight to Nairobi for our safari trip."
"Nairobi hosts a mix of modern offices and historic markets."
"The Nairobi conference drew participants from across East Africa."
Pronounce it as nai-ROH-bee, with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US naɪˈroʊ.bi, UK naɪˈɒr.i, AU naɪˈɒː.ɹi. Start with the diphthong in 'nai' (n-igh) and clearly articulate the 'ro' syllable with an open mid back vowel, then finish with a light 'bee' (bi). Keep the r- almost lightly tapped in non-rhotic contexts. Audio reference: you can listen to native speakers on pronunciation platforms like Pronounce or Forvo to hear the brief r-control between syllables.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (NAI-robi) and de-emphasizing the second syllable (na-ROH-bee). Also, speakers sometimes soften the final 'i' to an 'ee' in quick speech or mispronounce the middle 'ro' as a pure 'ro' rather than 'ro' with an open vowel. Correct by placing primary stress on the second syllable, using a clear 'ro' with a short mid vowel, and finishing with a crisp 'bee'.
In US English, you’ll hear naɪˈroʊ.bi with a rhotic 'r' and a clearer 'ro' vowel. UK English often renders the middle vowel closer to 'ɒ' or 'ɒr' depending on speaker, with non-rhotic tendencies, so it can sound naɪˈɒr.i. Australian English tends toward a broader 'ɒ' or 'ɔ' in the first vowels and a softer 'r' or non-rhotic practice, yielding naɪˈɒː.ɹi or naɪˈɒr.i depending on speaker. Listen for rhoticity and vowel quality differences.
Difficulties arise from the multi-syllabic rhythm, the central 'ro' cluster, and the two distinct vowel qualities in the middle and end (ˈroʊ or ˈɒr, and i). The second-syllable vowel changes the overall feel, and non-native speakers may drift toward 'nah-ROH-bee' or misplace stress. Focus on stressing the second syllable and moving the body of your mouth through the 'n-ai-ro' sequence with a clear 'ro' and a final light 'ee'.
Nairobi is a city name with a three-syllable structure and a distinct second-syllable nucleus. The challenge lies in mapping the East African pronunciation cues to English phonology—particularly the middle 'ro' sound and the transition into a final 'bee' sound. Unique points include the non-intuitive diphthong in the first syllable and the potential variation in rhoticity across dialects.
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- US: Pronounce naɪˈroʊ.bi with a rhotic r and a clear long 'o' in the second syllable. The last vowel is short and crisp. - UK: naɪˈɒr.i, with a non-rhotic r and a shorter 'i' sound; the middle vowel may feel closer to 'ɒ' and the second syllable closer to 'ri'. - AU: naɪˈɒː.ɹi, with a more elongated middle vowel and a softer 'r' or non-rhotic approach; the final 'i' tends to be shorter. Use IPA cues: US /roʊ/, UK /ɒr/ or /ɒri/, AU /ɒː.ɹi/. - General tip: keep the second syllable prominent and ensure a quick, smooth transition to the final 'bi'.
The name Nairobi originates from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, meaning 'the place of cold waters,' reflecting the Nairobi River and the surrounding geography. The term was anglicized during British colonial administration in the late 19th to early 20th centuries as the city grew around the railway depot established in 1899. The location was originally part of multiple Maasai and Kikuyu settlements; the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway catalyzed development, and Nairobi became the capital in 1963 after Kenyan independence. Over time, the name Nairobi remained fixed as the city expanded from a small depot town into a major regional capital, symbolizing both colonial-era transport routes and post-independence urban growth. The pronunciation has preserved the syllabic structure of the original name while adapting to English phonology, with stress typically on the second syllable in many well-informed pronunciations. Today, Nairobi is widely recognized globally, and its name is a standard part of East African nomenclature in travel, commerce, and diplomacy. The word has become entrenched in English-language discourse to denote Kenya’s administrative and economic center, even outside local contexts, reflecting its political and cultural significance.
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Words that rhyme with "Nairobi"
-obi sounds
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