hakuna matata

/həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/

//həˈkunə məˈtɑtə// phrase

"hakuna-matata" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hakuna matata” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a phrase - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - No worries, take it easy.

Key facts for hakuna matata
PropertyValue
Headwordhakuna matata
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPhrase
IPA/həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hakuna matata” sits in English frequency

hakuna matata falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for hakuna matata is 13 letters long, classified as a phrase, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "No worries, take it easy.".

No generated misspelling entries exist for hakuna matata in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Swahili hakuna matata (“there are no problems”). Popularized in English by the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. The correct English form is hakuna matata, spelled H-A-K-U-N-A- -M-A-T-A-T-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    No worries, take it easy.

Etymology

From Swahili hakuna matata (“there are no problems”). Popularized in English by the 1994 Disney film The Lion King.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "hakuna matata"?
"hakuna matata" is spelled H-A-K-U-N-A- -M-A-T-A-T-A. The IPA pronunciation is /həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/.
What does "hakuna matata" mean?
As a phrase, "hakuna matata" means: No worries, take it easy.
How do you pronounce "hakuna matata"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hakuna matata" is /həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "hakuna matata"?
From Swahili hakuna matata (“there are no problems”). Popularized in English by the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “hakuna matata”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is H-A-K-U-N-A- -M-A-T-A-T-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list