NATION
How to pronounce
Canada
KAN·uh·duh
American /ˈkæn.ə.də/
Sound by sound
3 little beats. BIG = the stressed part.
- KAN the ‘a’ in cat — say this beat loudest
- uh the relaxed ‘uh’ in sofa
- duh the relaxed ‘uh’ in sofa
Talking about Canada
The words that trip people up — what to call the team, the people, and the language.
- One person
- a Canadian
- The people / the team
- Canadians (the team: the Canucks / the Reds)
- As an adjective
- Canadian
The demonym is Canadian. Canada co-hosts the 2026 tournament alongside the USA and Mexico — only their third World Cup ever, and their first on home soil.
Get it right
- KAN·uh·duh — stress on KAN
Where the name comes from
Canada comes from the Iroquoian word kanata, meaning “village” or “settlement”. In 1535 two Indigenous youths used it to point the French explorer Jacques Cartier toward the village of Stadacona (near modern Quebec City); Cartier took “Canada” to mean the whole region, and the name spread up the St. Lawrence from there. A word for one village ended up naming the world’s second-largest country.
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Confederation
- CONCACAF
- World Cup pedigree
- Co-host of 2026; 3rd appearance (also 1986, 2022)
Hear it for real
Say it out loud — and check it.
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Practice in the appFAQ
How do you pronounce Canada?
Canada is pronounced KAN·uh·duh in American English — 3 beats, with the stress on KAN.
Where does the name Canada come from?
Canada comes from the Iroquoian word <em>kanata</em>, meaning “village” or “settlement”. In 1535 two Indigenous youths used it to point the French explorer Jacques Cartier toward the village of Stadacona (near modern Quebec City); Cartier took “Canada” to mean the whole region, and the name spread up the St. Lawrence from there. A word for one village ended up naming the world’s second-largest country.
Is Canada hosting the 2026 World Cup?
Canada is one of three co-hosts, with the United States and Mexico. Toronto and Vancouver are the two Canadian host cities. It’s the first World Cup ever held in Canada.