TL:DR – The correct pronunciation of Kyiv.
The capital city of Ukraine, written in English, is Kyiv. But there still seems to be so much inconsistency in how English-speaking newsreaders and reporters pronounce the place name.
It’s definitely not Keeeev and definitely, definitely not Kee-eff or Kee-ev.
Watch and listen…and learn…
That’s it. No ifs, no buts.
K(r)-yee-iv – but rolled tightly together into two short syllables. That bracketed r is like a Northumbrian or French “r” sound, but much shorter.
That said, English speakers do not pronounce Paris like the French, so perhaps they could be consistent with an Anglicised version of Kyiv – Kyeev.
To pronounce “Kyiv” correctly, follow these steps:
Start with the “K” sound, which is a voiceless velar plosive. This is the same sound as in the English word “kite” or “cat”. But, the K sound is closely associated with a soft “r” sound, which is pronounced by touching the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, just behind the front teeth, and making a soft hissing sound (like a shorter version of the “r” in Paris spoken in French).
Next, move on to the “yi” sound, which is a diphthong in Ukrainian. It is pronounced as a combination of the vowel sounds “i” and “y”. The sound is similar to the “ee” sound in the English word “beet” but with a slightly rounded lip shape.
Finally, end with the “v” sound, which is a voiced labiodental fricative. This sound is similar to the “v” sound in the English word “vase” or “vine”.
So the correct pronunciation of Kyiv is “K(r)eev” with the emphasis on the first syllable.