Pronunciation: [nɪkˈaɡjuːə] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "Nicagua" is incorrect. The correct spelling is "Nicaragua". This word is pronounced as /ˌnɪkəˈræɡwə/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "ni" is pronounced as /nɪ/ with a short "i" sound. The second syllable "ca" is pronounced as /kə/ with a schwa sound. The final syllable "ragua" is pronounced as /ˈræɡwə/ with stress on the second syllable and a short "a" sound.
The word "Nicaragua" is derived from the indigenous languages spoken in the region prior to Spanish colonization. It is believed to come from the combination of two words: "nic-atl-naha" in the Nahuatl language, which means "here" or "at the lake", and "kaguá" in the native Mangue language, which means "expanse" or "water". When combined, the term roughly translates to "here at the lake" or "surrounded by water", referring to the large Lake Nicaragua that dominates the western part of the country.
