{"id":11588,"date":"2023-11-27T11:40:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T10:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monumentsandsights.com\/?p=11588"},"modified":"2023-11-27T11:40:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T10:40:11","slug":"how-to-pronounce-mount-kilimanjaro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monumentsandsights.com\/how-to-pronounce-mount-kilimanjaro\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Pronounce Mount Kilimanjaro"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Proper Audio Technique<\/h2>\n

Mount Kilimanjaro, a flat-topped mountain located in northeastern Tanzania, can be a tricky name to pronounce. Therefore, it pays to know the proper audio technique for saying it correctly.
\nThe mountain is officially known in three languages, which are: English, Swahili and German, with the English pronunciation being the most internationally recognized. In English, it should be pronounced as, “kel-i-man-a-row.”
\nTo pronounce the correct intonation, one should place an emphasis on the syllable, “row.” The rest of the syllables should entail smooth speech and should flow together, thus producing a continuous flow instead of an abrupt interval.
\nSome find that it helps to break down each syllable into simpler terms, such as “kel-im-aa-row” verses “kel-i-man-a-row.” Although this technique may not be helpful to everyone, trying to break it down can sometimes assist those who are stuck on how to approach the pronunciation process.
\nFurthermore, the combination of an audio guide followed by some practice is often the best approach to learning the proper technique. This will help to ingrain the syllables into a person’s memory, and make for a smoother transition when trying to pronounce the word correctly. To accelerate the process, repeating the word out loud a few times in the presence of the audio guide can help strengthen the connection between the guide and proper pronunciation.<\/p>\n

Avoiding Common Mispronunciations<\/h2>\n

When learning to pronounce a word, a common mistake is to try and fit an individual’s native dialect into it. Although this may seem harmless, it can often lead to a mispronunciation due to the dialect’s phonetics not following the original word’s language of origin. An example of this would be pronouncing the word “Kilimanjaro” as “Killiminaroo.”
\nIn addition to this, many people make the mistake of either misarticulating certain phonemes, or speaking with a coarse and heavy accent while trying to pronounce it.
\nFortunately, paying close attention to the audio guide and complete practice is an easy way to avoid mispronouncing it. It also helps to talk a little bit slower than normal, as this decreases the risk of misplacing one’s accents or stressing the wrong syllable. <\/p>\n

Learning Swahili Variants<\/h2>\n

Not only is “Kilimanjaro” spoken in English and German, the mountain’s original name, “Kikoo yle Mawe,” is spoken in Swahili. The African language pronunciations of the mountain are a bit different from the English and German versions.
\nIn Swahili, it should be pronounced as, “Ki-lee-ma-naa-row,” with the syllables “lee-ma” being particularly important. Also, the intonation should be slightly higher and more melodic than the English and German versions. <\/p>\n

Advanced Tactics<\/h2>\n

Individuals who want to further their pronunciation skills can attempt to blend their native language with the Mountain’s original name. This technique can be extremely helpful if the native language of the speaker contains phonemes that are either similar or identical to the original Swahili name.
\nFor example, one could blend both English and Swahili together to pronounce the mountain’s name as, “Kel-i-ma-naa-row.” This could be tied into a similar technique by blending English and German together, which could produce a pronunciation similar to, “kel-i-mahn-row.”
\nMoreover, some choose to slightly emphasize the second syllable, “ma,” in order to add a little flavor to their pronunciation. This is often done to help the speaker stand out and differentiate the name from all the others.<\/p>\n

Pronunciation Tips<\/h2>\n