2 syllables: Ne, pal. Stress on pal.
nuh-PAWL
/nəˈpɔl/
Nepal is pronounced nuh-PAWL (/nəˈpɔl/). It has two syllables (Ne-pal), with the stress on "pal". Nepal is a sovereign Asian nation in the Himalaya region, bordered by India and China. As a proper noun, it refers to the country most often encountered in geopolitical, cultural, and travel contexts. The word is used in formal writing, media reporting, and everyday conversation when naming the country or its people, language, and places.
nounNepal is a sovereign Asian nation in the Himalaya region, bordered by India and China. As a proper noun, it refers to the country most often encountered in geopolitical, cultural, and travel contexts. The word is used in formal writing, media reporting, and everyday conversation when naming the country or its people, language, and places.
How to Pronounce Nepal
"I will travel to Nepal next year to trek in the Himalayas."
"Nepal’s constitution and governance have undergone significant changes in recent decades."
"The Nepalese capital is Kathmandu, a city famous for its temples."
Pronounce as nə-PAHL, two syllables with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: nəˈpɔːl. Start with a softened schwa in the first syllable, then a rounded back vowel in the second, ending with an L. Mouth positions: tongue neutral for /n/; for /ə/ relax jaw; for /ˈpɔːl/ round lips and a light aspirated /p/ before a long /ɔː/ and clear /l/. Audio reference: relative to “nuh-pawl” in many English speech datasets.
Common errors: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable as NE- pal; correction: shift stress to the second syllable: nə-ˈpɔːl. (2) Mispronouncing /ə/ as a full /ɪ/ or /eɪ/ in the first syllable; correction: use a relaxed, mid-central vowel /ə/. (3) Pronouncing /ɔː/ as /ɑː/ or /oʊ/; correction: keep rounded back vowel /ɔː/ with lips rounded, not open. Practice with minimal pairs and listen for the two-syllable rhythm.
In US, UK, and AU, the Стressed second syllable remains, but vowel quality shifts: US often merges /ə/ with a slightly tighter vowel and retains /ɔː/ in the second syllable; UK standard tends toward a crisper /ˈpɔːl/ while AU can be broader with a slightly more centralized initial vowel. The rhotic rhythm is typical in US accents; non-rhotic tendencies are more common in some UK variants, but Nepal remains two-syllable with /nə/ + /ˈpɔːl/ across.
Difficulties center on the unstressed first syllable /nə/ which can reduce, the long rounded /ɔː/ in the second syllable, and the final /l/ that should be clear but not overly velarized. Speakers often misplace stress (NE-pal) or substitute /ɔː/ with /ɑː/ or /oʊ/. Also, English learners may carry over native syllable rhythm into a two-syllable word, making it sound clipped. Focus on perfect two-syllable rhythm and accurate vowel length.
A helpful tip is to think of the second syllable as a held, rounded vowel /ɔː/ followed by a light L. Keep the tongue low-mid and back for /ɔː/, while releasing a clean alveolar /l/ at the end. Practice a quick but not abrupt transition from /n/ to /ə/ to /ˈpɔːl/, and avoid adding an extra vowel sound after /l/.
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The name Nepal is believed to derive from ancient Sanskrit or Pali terms linked to the Kathmandu Valley region, where the name first appears in historical inscriptions and legends. Some scholars connect it to the people of the Kathmandu valley, historically called the Nepa or Nepaal, though the exact linguistic roots remain debated. The term evolved through medieval Indian and South Asian texts as a geographic and political label for the mountainous territory dominated by Rajputana and later various Newar principalities, eventually becoming the modern nation-state Nepal after the unification era of the late 18th century under Prithvi Narayan Shah. English usage of Nepal entered widespread modern discourse during the 19th and 20th centuries, aligning with the emergence of Nepal as an internationally recognized sovereign entity. First known English attestations appear in travel and diplomatic records, with the term steadily standardized to “Nepal” in global atlases and contemporary reference works. Across languages, the country is associated with the Himalayas, Kathmandu, and Nepalese culture, with the term Nepal functioning as a proper noun rather than a common noun.
💡 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 "Nepal" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Nepal"
-ral sounds
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