How to Pronounce Teahupo'o

Meaning and Context

Teahupoʼo, pronounced "cho-po," is a legendary village on the southwestern coast of Tahiti, French Polynesia, renowned globally as the home of one of the heaviest and most awe-inspiring waves on the planet. The wave itself, breaking over a shallow, razor-sharp coral reef, is characterized by its immense thickness, cavernous barrel, and raw power, earning it a fearsome reputation within the big wave surfing community. This iconic surf spot serves as the permanent venue for the Teahupoʼo Pro, a critical WSL Championship Tour event (part of the World Surf League) that is often a decisive contest in the race for the world title. Beyond the thrill of monster waves, the area is a tropical paradise offering stunning vistas of the South Pacific, vibrant marine life for snorkeling and diving, and a deep connection to authentic Tahitian culture. The village's commitment to preserving its natural beauty and traditional way of life, even as it hosts international surf competitions, makes it a unique pilgrimage site for elite surfers and ocean enthusiasts seeking both adrenaline and serenity.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is Teahupoʼo, which includes an ʻokina (the Unicode character U+02BB) between the 'o' and the final 'o'. This glottal stop is a crucial letter in the Tahitian language and is integral to the name's proper pronunciation. Common misspellings and variants arise from omitting or misrepresenting this diacritical mark. Frequent errors include "Teahupoo" (entirely omitting the ʻokina), "Teahupo'o" (using a standard apostrophe U+0027 instead of the ʻokina, which is often accepted in informal writing but technically incorrect), and "Teahupoo" or "Teahupou" (phonetic guesses). Typos like "Tehupo'o" or "Teahup'o" are also common. In digital contexts and search queries, the version without the diacritical mark, "Teahupoo," is widely used and generally understood, though purists and official sources emphasize the importance of the ʻokina for linguistic accuracy.

Example Sentences

The sheer force of the wave at Teahupoʼo has been known to snap high-performance surfboards like twigs, demanding absolute respect from even the most experienced big-wave chargers.

Every year, the world's best surfers gather at the Teahupoʼo Pro, where the contest window is strategically set to coincide with the most promising South Pacific swells.

After watching the competition, many visitors explore the village's lush landscapes and tranquil lagoons, discovering that Teahupoʼo offers far more than just its legendary surf.

The local community takes great pride in sharing their ancestral knowledge of the reef and the ocean that shapes their daily lives.

Photographers and filmmakers are drawn to the location not only for the dramatic surfing action but also for the breathtaking sunsets that silhouette the famous wave against the Tahitian sky.

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