A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Osaka
Pronounced oh-SAH-kuh, this major Japanese city's name is often mispronounced with a short 'o'.
osaka
oh-SAH-kuh
/oʊˈsɑː.kə/ · o · SA · ka
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
Where the word comes from
The name 'Osaka' is believed to derive from 'osaka' (大坂), meaning 'large slope' or 'large hill'. The kanji were later changed to '大阪' (also read 'Osaka') which means 'great prosperity'.
Common ways people get it wrong
- AH-sah-kuh This is often due to unfamiliarity with the 'o' sound at the beginning of foreign words, but the first syllable should sound like 'oh'.
- oh-SAK-uh The stress is on the second syllable, 'SAH', not the final syllable.
Frequently asked
Is Osaka pronounced like 'oh-SAH-ka' or 'ah-SAH-ka'?
It's pronounced with an 'oh' sound at the beginning, like 'oh-SAH-kuh'. The stress falls on the second syllable, 'SAH'.
What does the name Osaka mean?
The name 'Osaka' originally meant 'large slope' or 'large hill'. The characters were later changed to mean 'great prosperity'.
Where is Osaka located?
Osaka is a major port city and a significant economic hub in the Kansai region of Japan. It's the third-largest city in Japan by population.
