3 syllables: Ut, tar Pra, desh. Stress on Ut.
UUT-uhr pruh-DAYSH
/ˈʊtər prəˈdeɪʃ/
Uttar Pradesh is pronounced UUT-uhr pruh-DAYSH (/ˈʊtər prəˈdeɪʃ/). It has three syllables (Ut-tar Pra-desh), with the stress on "Ut". Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India, and the term combines the Hindi/Sanskrit words for 'north' (uttar) and 'state' (pradesh). In English usage, it is treated as a proper noun referring to the region, with pronunciation reflecting Hindi origins rather than English phonology. The name is commonly used in formal and media contexts when identifying the Indian state.
nounUttar Pradesh is a state in northern India, and the term combines the Hindi/Sanskrit words for 'north' (uttar) and 'state' (pradesh). In English usage, it is treated as a proper noun referring to the region, with pronunciation reflecting Hindi origins rather than English phonology. The name is commonly used in formal and media contexts when identifying the Indian state.
How to Pronounce Uttar Pradesh
"The election results were announced for Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India."
"She studied the cultural diversity of Uttar Pradesh during her fieldwork."
"The city of Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh."
Pronounce as Utt-ar Prah-desh. IPA (US) ˈʊtːəɹ ˈprædeɪʃ (approx). For accurate articulation, use two syllables in Uttar with a short, clipped t sound and a rolled-like r. Stress on the first syllable of Uttar and the first syllable of Pradesh when speaking slowly; in fast speech, stress remains on the first syllable of both words. Audio resources: search Pronounce or Forvo for native speakers saying ‘Uttar Pradesh’.
Common errors: (1) treating Uttar as one-syllable like ‘oot-ter’ rather than two clipped syllables; (2) replacing Uttar with ‘oo-ter’ or dropping the ‘t’ sound, making it ‘Ura’ or ‘Uttar’ reduced. Correction: keep a clear t sound between U-tta-r; second word Pradesh should be pronounced ‘pra-daysh’ with the final ‘sh’ as in ‘she’, not ‘pruh-desh’. Practice with minimal pairs: Utt-er vs Ut-tar; Pra-desh vs Pra-dease.
US/UK/AU share Uttar with a short, clipped t; r-like light alveolar approximant is common. In US English, Uttar tends to be /ˈʊtər/ or /ˈʊt̬ər/ with rhotic r; Pradesh often /ˈprædeɪʃ/ in American, /ˈprædɪʃ/ in some UK pronunciations; UK often uses non-rhoticity where r at end of Uttar is less audible; AU follows US-like rhotic with a softened 'r'.” ,
Because it combines Hindi phonology with English listener expectations. The 'tt' cluster in Uttar yields a tense stop [t̠t̠], and the 'r' can be rolled or tapped in Hindi-origin names, producing a subtle difference if spoken by non-native speakers. The second word, Pradesh, uses an aspirated ‘d’ and the final ‘sh’ blends; many English listeners misplace stress or mispronounce as 'Up-prad-ish' or 'U-ter Pray-desh'. IPA guidance and listening practice mitigate this.
Uttar Pradesh blends Hindi phonemes with English prosody. You’ll notice the two-province compound with long vowels and aspirated consonants that may not be present in English. Stress anchors both words, but natural speech can prime a slightly reduced second word (Prah-desh). The key is to maintain accurate t-closure and a crisp final ‘sh’ sound while preserving the Hindi vowel qualities.
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Uttar Pradesh derives from Sanskrit and Hindi. Uttar (uttara) means 'north' or 'above' and pradesh means 'province' or 'state'. The compound likely forms a direct translation of the historical concept of a northern province in the Indian subcontinent. The term Uttar Pradesh appears in formal Indian administrative nomenclature after 1950, aligning with the political reorganization of states following independence. In English-language sources, the name is anglicized with spaces and capitalized as a proper noun. The word Uttar reflects the Sanskrit root uttara-, carried into Hindi as uttar, indicating location relative to another region or reference point. Pradesh is a common Hindi/Sanskrit suffix in toponyms denoting territory. Over time, as administrative borders changed, the name remained the official designation for the northern state bordering Nepal, with Lucknow as its capital. The evolution mirrors broader patterns of Sanskritization and standardization of place-names in modern India, transitioning from traditional usage to contemporary official nomenclature in government, media, and scholarship.
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Words that rhyme with "Uttar Pradesh"
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