Language Matters | When 'tsunami' was introduced to the English ...
Despite appearing in the September 1986 issue of National Geographic, it was not until the 1960s that ‘tsunami’ overtook the inaccurate ‘tidal wave’ in English usage.
www.scmp.comTsunami is spelled tsunami, with the initial “ts” pronounced as in Japanese, though many English speakers say it as “soo-nah-mee.” The widely accepted English usage has shifted over time away from “tidal wave” to the loanword tsunami.
Latest guidance on spelling
- Standard form in English: tsunami
- Common pronunciation renditions: /tsuːˈnɑːmi/ (tsu-NAH-mee) or /suˈnæmi/ (soo-NAH-mee) depending on speaker
- The term originates from Japanese and has been in English use for decades, gradually supplanting “tidal wave” in both media and scientific writing
Brief history notes
- English usage moved from “tidal wave” to tsunami in the latter half of the 20th century, with broader adoption after notable events in the 2000s and 2010s [source context: general linguistic shift in English terminology].
- Pronunciation guides vary, but most authoritative sources in science and journalism now align with the Japanese-origin pronunciation starting with “ts,” recognizing it as the standard term rather than “tidal wave.”
Example usage
- Correct: “A tsunami warning was issued after the undersea earthquake.”
- Acceptable alternate phrasing (less precise): “A tidal wave warning was issued,” though this is less common in contemporary professional writing.
If you’d like, I can summarize current style guides (e.g., AP, Chicago) on tsunami usage or pull a quick, up-to-date citation list from reputable sources.