Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, who goes by Zendaya professionally, was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California. She got her start in the entertainment industry by participating in dance competitions before earning a role in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up. Since then, Zendaya has gone on to become an accomplished actress, singer, and model. She’s starred in hit films and TV shows and has her own music.
Despite her many accomplishments, many people are still unsure about how to pronounce her name. Not to worry, we’ve got the definitive guide to pronouncing Zendaya’s name.
So, how do you pronounce Zendaya’s name? The correct way to say Zendaya is “zen-DAY-uh.” The emphasis is on the second syllable, which has a long “a” sound. It’s an easy name to remember once you hear it pronounced out loud.
For those who are curious about the origin of the name Zendaya, it’s a unique name that was created by Zendaya’s parents. Her mother, Claire Stoermer, is of German and Scottish ancestry, and her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is of African American descent. Zendaya’s name combines the words “zen” and “daya,” which means “to give thanks” in Shona, a Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe. The name Zendaya can be interpreted as “to give thanks for the blessings of life/ to be thankful for all the good life has brought you.”
It’s not just fans who may struggle with pronouncing Zendaya’s name correctly. The actress herself has said in interviews that people often mispronounce her name or simply don’t bother trying to say it correctly. In a 2019 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Zendaya admitted that even her co-stars frequently mispronounced her name when they first started working together.
But the trend seems to be changing, as more and more celebrities and media outlets are getting Zendaya’s name right. In recent years, she’s become a household name thanks to her roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Greatest Showman, and HBO’s Euphoria, among others.
Zendaya has also used her platform to speak out about issues of social justice, including racism and police brutality. She’s an outspoken advocate for Black Lives Matter and uses her social media to raise awareness about these important issues.
So, whether you’re a big fan of Zendaya or just someone who wants to get her name right, remember that it’s pronounced “zen-DAY-uh.” With this guide, you can now confidently talk about the talented actress and singer with ease. ZENDAYA, is pronounced as Zen-day-ah, not Zen-dee-ya or Zen-da-ya.