What does "Oaxaca" mean?
nounA state and city in southern Mexico, known for its cuisine and indigenous cultures.
Origin of "Oaxaca"
From Nahuatl Huāxyacac. In Spanish, the X is pronounced like an H, making it sound like wa-HA-ka.
How to Say "Oaxaca"
The word is broken down into three syllables: wah (sounds like WAH), hah (sounds like HAH), kuh (sounds like KUH). The stress is on the second syllable, so it sounds like wah-HAA-kuh.
Many people mistakenly say the 'O' as 'Oh' instead of 'Wah', which changes the overall sound of the word.
When I traveled to Oaxaca, I was amazed by its rich culture and delicious food.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Oaxaca?
Oaxaca is pronounced wəˈhɑːkə. Click the audio button above to hear the correct pronunciation in American, British, and Australian English.
Is Oaxaca hard to pronounce?
Oaxaca is considered hard to pronounce. The IPA phonetic transcription is wəˈhɑːkə.
What language is Oaxaca from?
Oaxaca originates from Spanish. From Nahuatl Huāxyacac. In Spanish, the X is pronounced like an H, making it sound like wa-HA-ka.