3 syllables: Sa, fa, ri. Stress on fa.
suh-FAH-ree
/səˈfɑɹi/
Safari is pronounced suh-FAH-ree (/səˈfɑɹi/). It has three syllables (Sa-fa-ri), with the stress on "fa". Safari is a noun meaning a trip or expedition to observe wildlife in natural habitats, especially in Africa. It also refers to a style of lightweight outdoor clothing. The term conveys adventure and exploration and is commonly used for guided tours, wildlife watching, or travel experiences. The word is used across travel, entertainment, and news contexts.
nounSafari is a noun meaning a trip or expedition to observe wildlife in natural habitats, especially in Africa. It also refers to a style of lightweight outdoor clothing. The term conveys adventure and exploration and is commonly used for guided tours, wildlife watching, or travel experiences. The word is used across travel, entertainment, and news contexts.
"We planned a safari through the Serengeti to photograph lions and elephants."
"The family booked a weekend safari and stayed in a tented camp."
"Researchers joined a conservation safari to monitor animal populations."
Safari is pronounced sa-FA-ri with primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA: US/UK/AU /səˈfɑː.ri/. Start with a reduced first syllable /sə/ as in “so.” The second syllable opens with /fɑː/ (open back unrounded vowel, like far, with a longer duration), and end with /ri/ (short, unstressed 'ee' sound). Listen for a clean two-beat rhythm: sə-FAR-i. Audio references: you can compare to native speech via Pronounce or Forvo for natural intonation.
Common mistakes include treating it as three equal syllables with stress on the first syllable: sa-FA-ri is incorrect; you should emphasize the second syllable. Another error is mispronouncing the /ɑː/ as a short /æ/ or /ɒ/; use the long open back vowel /ɑː/ as in far. Also avoid a tense /si/ at the end; instead end with a relaxed /ri/ (like ‘ree’). Focus on reducing the first syllable to /sə/ and ensuring the middle /ɑː/ is long and clear.
In US, UK, and AU, the core is /səˈfɑː.ri/. The main difference is in rhoticity and vowel quality: US may produce a slightly more rhotic ending with a rhotic vowel before the final /ri/, UK tends to non-rhoticity in some dialects but often still rhotic with /ri/; AU tends to a broader, more rounded /ə/ in the first syllable and clear /ɑː/ in the stressed vowel. Overall vowel length and consonant clarity remain similar, with minor regional reductions in the first syllable in some UK variants.
Difficulties stem from the stressed mid-vowel /ɑː/ in the second syllable and the reduced first syllable /sə/. English learners may overemphasize the first vowel or shorten the middle vowel. The combination of /ə/ before a strong /ˈfɑː/ and the final /ri/ requires precise tongue position: a relaxed schwa, then a bold open-back unrounded vowel, then a quick, crisp /ri/. Mastery comes from practicing the sequence with minimal pairs and listening to native speech.
A unique aspect is the reduced first syllable /sə/ leading into a strong /ˈfɑː/; avoid inserting extra consonants or an extra syllable. Pay attention to the long /ɑː/ rather than a short /ɑ/ or /æ/. The final /ri/ requires a light, rapid release; don’t turn it into /riː/ or /riə/. The overall rhythm is two-syllable with stress on the second syllable, producing a brisk, travel-phrase cadence.
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US: rhotic articulation is subtle; you may hear a slightly vocalic /r/ at the end of the second syllable. UK: may be less rhotic in the first syllable, but still keeps /ri/ crisp; vowel /ɑː/ can be slightly shorter, more centralized. AU: often a broad, open /ɑː/, with a rounded, relaxed /ə/ in the first syllable; keep the /ri/ bright and fast. Across all, the primary challenge remains the stressed /ˈfɑː/; ensure it’s clearly long and open. IPA references: /səˈfɑː.ri/.
Safari comes from the Swahili word safarī, which means journey or travel. Swahili borrowed it from Arabic safar, meaning to travel or journey, rooted in the Semitic triconsonantal root s-f-r, which conveys travel, itinerary, or crossing. The plural suffix -ī in Swahili often marks abstract nouns or adjectives; in English, safari arrived via early 19th-century explorers and colonial-era travel literature and became the standard term for a wildlife expedition. In English usage, safari gained broader metaphorical senses—an adventurous outing or genre (as in safari parks, safari suits, or safari-themed media). The word has maintained its exotic, exploratory connotation and is now firmly integrated into travel vocabulary worldwide. The first known English usage appeared in the 1850s, when explorers and naturalists described expeditions to Africa as safaris, and later popularized by travelers and reporters in travel writing and adventure literature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Safari" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Safari"
-afi sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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