USA
How to pronounce
Seattle
see·AT·uhl
American /siˈæt.əl/
Sound by sound
3 little beats. BIG = the stressed part.
- see the ‘ee’ in see
- AT the ‘a’ in cat — say this beat loudest
- uhl the relaxed ‘uh’ in sofa
Don’t say…
- SEE-at-uhl (stress on the first beat)
- see-AT-ull
- see·AT·uhl — stress on AT
Where the name comes from
Seattle is named after Chief Si’ahl (c. 1786–1866), a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples whose name was anglicized to “Seattle”. The settlers — led by Doc Maynard, a friend of the chief — adopted the name in 1853, making it one of the few major American cities named for a Native American leader. The chief’s own name appears on Washington Territory plats filed that May.
- State
- Washington
- Nickname
- The Emerald City
- World Cup venue
- Lumen Field (branded “Seattle Stadium” for the tournament)
Hear it for real
Say it out loud — and check it.
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Practice in the appFAQ
How do you pronounce Seattle?
Seattle is pronounced see·AT·uhl in American English — 3 beats, with the stress on AT.
Where does the name Seattle come from?
Seattle is named after Chief <em>Si’ahl</em> (c. 1786–1866), a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples whose name was anglicized to “Seattle”. The settlers — led by Doc Maynard, a friend of the chief — adopted the name in 1853, making it one of the few major American cities named for a Native American leader. The chief’s own name appears on Washington Territory plats filed that May.
How many World Cup matches will Seattle host?
Six at Lumen Field — four group-stage games, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16 — between June 15 and July 6, 2026.
Where does the name Seattle come from?
From Chief Si’ahl, a 19th-century Duwamish and Suquamish leader. English speakers spelled his name “Seattle”, and the city took it in 1853. It is said see-AT-uhl, with the stress on the middle syllable.