A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Omaha
Pronounced OH-muh-hah, this is the name of a major city in Nebraska and a Native American tribe.
omaha
OH-muh-hah
/ˈoʊməhɑː/ · OH · muh · hah
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It also comes up in historical or cultural contexts related to the Omaha tribe.
Where the word comes from
The name 'Omaha' comes from the Omaha-Ponca word 'Umoⁿhoⁿ', meaning 'those who are on the bluff' or 'downstream people'. This referred to their traditional homeland.
Common ways people get it wrong
- oh-MAH-uh This mispronunciation often happens because people try to stress the second syllable like in some other place names. Remember the stress is on the first syllable.
- oh-MAH-ha The final syllable is typically pronounced with a long 'ah' sound, not a short 'uh'.
Frequently asked
Is Omaha a state or a city?
Omaha is a major city, the largest in the state of Nebraska. It is not a state itself.
What is the origin of the name Omaha?
The name comes from the Omaha-Ponca word 'Umoⁿhoⁿ', which means 'those who are on the bluff' or 'downstream people', referring to their ancestral lands.
