The Correct Way to Pronounce Kamala Harris’ First Name

As Vice President Kamala Harris is inching toward securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, her name is coming up more and more in discussion – on radio, television, and even among people in casual conversation.

Yet despite her being vice president for nearly four years, and in the public eye on a national scale for at least a year before that, people are still mispronouncing her first name.

Since we’re going to be hearing – and speaking – her name quite a bit over the next few months, and possibly even over the next four years after that, it’s time to learn the correct way to say it.

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What Are the Wrong Ways to Pronounce “Kamala?”

Well, it’s not “CAM-el-luh,” which is how some people have been mispronouncing it. You’re thinking of a dromedary animal found in the desert, not a woman who has the potential to be the first woman and first woman of color to serve as President of the United States.

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It’s not “Karmel-uh,” as if it was some kind of dessert topping or coffee flavoring.

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It’s also not “Kuh-MAHL-uh,” which many wrestling fans may first think when they see the name in print.

After all, Kamala the Ugandan Giant was quite a fearsome foe of WWF/WWE heroes back in the 1980s such as Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter.

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So What Is the Correct Way to Pronounce “Kamala?”

To pronounce Vice President Harris’ first name correctly, just think of punctuation: it’s “Comma-luh.”

Where Does the Name "Kamala" Come From?

Kamala is a Hindi word meaning "lotus flower" in Sanskrit. It is also another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.

Hopefully this information helps as you go forward discussing the presidential race.