Kamala Harris: Are You Pronouncing Her Name Right?
Is it Kamala or “Comma-la”?
Many people have been saying Kamala Harris’ first name wrong, and she’s letting us! “It’s not Cam-el-uh. It’s not Kuh-ma-la. It’s not Karmela,” say many. For years, Harris has been allowing people to mispronounce her name as “comma-la, like the punctuation mark”. It’s customary for people with unique ethnic names to find ways to explain the pronunciation approachably to others. This phenomenon tends to cause some people to start pronouncing their own names differently to align with what most people can understand.
For instance, Kamala Harris initially had to get people to even recognize the basics of her name, which is why her name has accepted the popular pronunciation of “comma-la”. But that pronunciation still rings false for people from a South Asian background.
Origin and Pronunciation
The name Kamala, often used among Indians, is a pretty common name for girls. It translates to “lotus” and is often used interchangeably for Lakshmi, one of the chief goddesses in Hinduism. In its original form, it’s never pronounced “comma-la” but is more subtle, closer to “com’la”. The emphasis isn’t on the first part, “comma”; in fact, the correct pronunciation doesn’t have any real emphasis at all. It is smoothly pronounced across the full name.
It can be challenging for tongues trained in English, but the accurate pronunciation almost requires you to skip gently over that second “a” —not entirely, but just enough so that it doesn’t sound as if you’re speaking in punctuation.
Emphasis in South Asian Names
Appropriate emphasis in South Asian names continues to be a challenge for North American audiences. It’s not surprising to hear names being mildly butchered which can cause some confusion. But who can blame everyone for getting it wrong when the person involved isn’t going in for the accurate pronunciation? Understanding the real pronunciation warrants an understanding of the native language nuances.
For instance, Hindi does not use Western pronunciations of the letters “a” and “o”. Meaning they sometimes operate either more as a “u” sound or as an “au” sound. Hence, we’d be better off pronouncing her name more like “Cum’la,” but to suggest that spelling would invite unnecessary innuendos.
Promoting Cultural Respect
Kamala Harris is the first woman of color to clinch a major party nomination, and she’s now obligated to take on her contenders in an election. In the coming months, people will get more wrong about her than they will right. As she has already done throughout her career, she’s in for another onslaught of jabs, sexist critiques, and accusations of being either not Black enough, not brown enough, or too much of one or the other. As audience, the least we can do is get her name right. By doing so, we can show respect for our diverse cultural identities.
It’s important to remember that having a unique name is not a burden but a badge of individuality and cultural heritage. And while it can sometimes be complicated to pronounce names from different cultures, it’s always better to make a sincere effort to get them right.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
