# Correct pronunciation of 'Al Qaeda'?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-al-qaeda/82714>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 20, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-al-qaeda/82714 "2001-09-20T01:22:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gelid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@gelid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gelid)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-al-qaeda/82714/1 "2001-09-20T01:22:51Z")

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I know this is sort of academic, but to fight a little of my own ignorance…I have heard newscasters refer to bin Laden’s organization as ‘al ka-eed-ah,’ ‘al kaid-ah,’ ‘al ka-aid-ah’…

Any dopers know the correct pronunciation (if there is one)?

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-al-qaeda/82714/2 "2001-09-20T03:23:59Z")

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I do not speak Arabic, but I would guess that it is your third option.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-al-qaeda/82714/3 "2001-09-20T04:01:19Z")

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According to [The Voice of America pronunciation guide](http://www.voa.gov/pronunciations/), it’s

> [@](#):
>
> al **K-EYE** -eh-duh

Apparently **K-EYE** is intended to represent one syllable (the accented one).