If you’ve ever seen the word “Oaxaca” and wondered how to say it, you’re not alone. The Oaxacan pronunciation can be confusing, especially if you’re reading it in English for the first time. But don’t worry—by the time you finish this guide, you’ll be able to say it like a local and even explain it to your friends. Whether you’re talking about Oaxaca, Mexico, Oaxacan food, or Oaxaca cheese, learning the correct pronunciation is both respectful and helpful.
Let’s dive in and learn how to say “Oaxaca,” “Oaxacan,” and even “queso Oaxaca” clearly and confidently—with simple explanations, examples, and real-world usage.
What Is Oaxaca? (A Bit of Background)
Oaxaca (wah-hah-kah) is most often known as the name of a state and city in Mexico. The capital of the state is also called Oaxaca de Juárez (shortened to Oaxaca). The word comes from the old Nahuatl language name “Huaxyacac”, meaning “place of the guaje trees.” It was written with an “X” when the Spanish explorers arrived. Over time, that X (which used to sound like the “sh” in “shop”) turned into the sound we now hear as an H sound.
People outside Mexico often hear “Oaxaca” in the news or recipes and want to know how to say it right. For example, you might see “Oaxaca, Mexico” on a map, or read about Oaxaca cheese (a soft white cheese also called queso Oaxaca). Pronouncing it correctly shows respect and helps you be understood.
Quick facts:
- State and city: Oaxaca is a state in southern Mexico, and its capital city is also called Oaxaca.
- Cheese: Queso Oaxaca (keh-soh wah-hah-kah) is a stringy white cheese from that region.
- Nahuatl origin: The name comes from Huaxyacac, an old Nahuatl word.
Why Is “Oaxaca” Tricky to Pronounce?
The main trick in Oaxaca is the letter X. In English, X is usually “ks” as in “box”. But in these old Spanish names, X has a special sound.
- Spanish history: In old Spanish (16th century), x was pronounced like “sh” (the sound [ʃ] in “shy”). For example, Oaxaca was once pronounced “wah-sHAH-kah”. Over time, that “sh” sound changed to a throaty “kh” sound (called a voiceless velar fricative [x], like the German ch in “Bach”). Then, in many Spanish-speaking places it became a softer “h” sound like in English “hand.”
- Modern Spanish: Today in Mexico (and many other places), the X in Oaxaca is pronounced like the letter J in Spanish (which sounds like an English “h” sound). For example, Fundéu explains that people say /oajaca/elsiglodetorreon.com.mx (listen for the “h”). This is similar to how they pronounce “México” (meaning Mexico) as “Meh-hee-ko”. The same rule applies to Oaxaca.
- Authoritative sources: Even language experts agree. Merriam-Webster dictionary gives Oaxaca as wä-ˈhä-kämerriam-webster.com, and Cambridge linguists note that Spanish x is a special sound (the voiceless fricative) in words like Oaxacaassets.cambridge.org. In plain terms, all this means is just remember: X in Oaxaca sounds like an H!
In summary, instead of “OAX-aka” or “OX-a-ka,” the correct sound is like saying “wah-HAH-kah.”
Pronouncing “Oaxaca” Step by Step
Let’s break Oaxaca into parts to say it clearly. A friendly way is to split it into three syllables: Oa-xa-ca. Now say each part with an H-sound for the X:
- WAH – as in water (but without the “ter”). Just say “wah” (like wah-ter).
- HAH – like a soft laugh “ha!” (say hah with a breathy ‘h’).
- KAH – as in caw (bird sound) or car (without pronouncing the “r”). Just “kah.”
Put it together: WAH-HAH-KAH.
- In IPA terms (just for interest), that’s approximately /waˈhaka/. In simple spelling: wah-hah-kah.
So Oaxaca = wah + hah + kah.
- Emphasize the second syllable (HAH). It’s WAH- HAH –kah.
- Say it slowly at first, then naturally: “wah – HAH – kah.”
Examples in sentences (for practice):
- “I am going to visit Oaxaca (wah-HAH-kah) next summer.”
- “My favorite Mexican cheese is queso Oaxaca (keh-soh wah-HAH-kah).”
Remember: The X is not “ks.” It’s an H-sound. Don’t say “O-AX-uh-ka” or “OAK-suh-kah.” Those are common mistakes. Instead, always use wah-hah-kah.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some wrong ways people often say Oaxaca – and how to fix them:
- Wrong: “Oh-AX-uh-ka” (like Oak-sack-uh)
Right: “WAH-hah-kah” - Wrong: “OAK-suh-kah” (emphasizing the first syllable)
Right: “wah-HAH-kah” (stress the middle) - Wrong: “Wah-ZAH-ka” or “Wah-ZA-ka” (using a Z sound)
Right: “WAH-hah-kah” (use the breathy H sound, not Z) - Wrong: “Wax-a-ka” (saying the X as “ks”)
Right: “WAH-hah-kah” (say X like Helsiglodetorreon.com.mx)
In short, do not pronounce the X as “ks”. Spanish experts warn that this spelling can confuse people, but the X should sound like “j”/“h”elsiglodetorreon.com.mx.
A handy tip: Think of Oaxaca like “Was-hah-kah.” Imagine the word “washer” without the “s” and “r”: “wah-er” → then change the R to a K and add an H after the first syllable: “wah-hah-kah.” This can help you hear the right sounds.
Pronouncing “Oaxacan” (WAH-hah-ken)
What about “Oaxacan” (the adjective for something from Oaxaca)? For example, you might say “Oaxacan food” or “Oaxacan art.” In English, the dictionaries give it as wä-ˈhä-kənmerriam-webster.com. This sounds like WAH-hah-ken.
- Break it into three parts: Oa-xa-can.
- WAH – (like before).
- HAH – (like before).
- KEN – (like the name Ken).
- WAH – (like before).
Say it: WAH-HAH-ken.
Notice that Oaxacan still starts with “wah-hah,” but the ending is -ken (rhymes with “hen”). Stress the same second syllable: wah- HAH -ken.
Example: “I love Oaxacan cuisine.” (wah-HAH-ken)
Oaxacan can also describe people (an Oaxacan is a person from Oaxaca). The pronunciation stays WAH-hah-ken.
Pronouncing “queso Oaxaca” (Oaxaca Cheese)
The famous Oaxaca cheese (queso Oaxaca) is named after the place. In Spanish, it’s called “queso Oaxaca.” Here’s how to say it:
- “Queso” (meaning cheese) is pronounced KEH-sohspanishdict.com (like kay-soh).
- “Oaxaca,” we already know, is WAH-hah-kahmerriam-webster.com.
Put them together: KEH-soh WAH-hah-kah.
So if someone asks for cheese in Spanish, you might say: “Un kilo de queso Oaxaca.” That sounds like “un KEE-loh deh keh-soh wah-HAH-kah.”
(For English speakers, you can still say “Oaxaca cheese” the same way: wah-hah-kah.)
Tip: This cheese is also often called quesillo (keh-see-yoh) in Oaxaca, but if you use “queso Oaxaca,” stick with keh-soh wah-hah-kah.
Quick Tips to Get It Right
- X = “H” Sound: In Oaxaca, the X makes an H sound. Think “wassaka” but with an H instead of SS.
- Stress the Middle: Say “WAH-hah-kah” with the loudest sound on HAH.
- Break into Syllables: Practice “WAH – HAH – KAH.” Say each part.
- Compare to Similar Words: “Mexico” in Spanish is meh-hee-ko. Oaxaca is like wah-HAH-kah. The X works the same way (like h).
If you want to double-check, you can listen to native speakers online (Forvo or YouTube have audio examples). All the experts agree on wah-hah-kahmerriam-webster.comelsiglodetorreon.com.mx, so that’s the safe way to say it.
Summary
- Oaxaca (the place and cheese) = wah-HAH-kahmerriam-webster.com.
- Oaxacan (from Oaxaca) = wah-HAH-kenmerriam-webster.com.
- Queso Oaxaca = keh-soh WAH-hah-kahspanishdict.commerriam-webster.com.
Practice these and you’ll sound like a pro (or at least not like a puzzled tourist)!
Sources: Major dictionaries and Spanish language experts confirm this pronunciation. Merriam-Webster gives Oaxaca as wä-ˈhä-kämerriam-webster.com. Spanish experts at Fundéu explain the X should sound like J/H (so [waˈxaka])elsiglodetorreon.com.mx. Cambridge University Press notes that the Spanish “x” in Oaxaca is the special /x/ sound found in México and Oaxaca assets.cambridge.org. All together, they agree on “wah-HAH-kah” as the correct pronunciation.
Conclusion:
So now you know how to say Oaxaca the right way! It sounds like wah-HAH-kah, and it’s fun to say once you get used to it. Words from other countries can look tricky, but learning them is a great way to show respect and be kind. Plus, it helps a lot when you travel, order food, or talk with friends.
Saying words like Oaxacan and Oaxaca cheese the right way makes you sound smart and shows you care about other cultures. Keep practicing and don’t worry if you mess up at first. Just try again with a smile. The more you say it, the easier it gets—and soon, you’ll say it like a pro!
FAQs:
Q: How do you pronounce “Oaxaca”?
A: It’s pronounced wah-HAH-kah. The “x” sounds like an “h” in this word.
Q: What does “Oaxacan” mean?
A: “Oaxacan” describes something or someone from Oaxaca, Mexico—like food, people, or culture.
Q: How do you say “Oaxacan”?
A: Say it as wah-HAH-ken, with the stress on the middle part.
Q: Why is Oaxaca spelled with an X?
A: The name comes from an old Indigenous language, and the “x” was used in Spanish to match that sound.
Q: How do you pronounce Oaxaca cheese?
A: Say it like KEH-soh wah-HAH-kah. It’s a tasty cheese from Mexico.
Q: Is “Oaxaca” hard to pronounce for English speakers?
A: It can be tricky at first, but with a little practice, it becomes easy and fun to say.
