How to pronounce Tuvalu?

Years ago when I was a kid, a Maori chap stayed with our family in Tasmania.
He was prince of their nation. They came over and did some ceremony with him.
Since then I have, of course, as second nature, remembered how he pronounced this word.
Of course one says it quickly, as one does a native tongue including English.
It was Too, va, loo
that's too, and va -as a v for vat and a for apple - say the same as the start of Vancouver, and loo.
The "a" is almost non-existent when spoken quickly, as in normal casual speech.
I hope this is correct but it's used many times here with islanders.
Ghastly thought - perhaps it sounds like "I'm going to the loo, without the "I'm", and with a lisp.
and again, top site!

Islander

Pacific

Tuvalu is pronounced as

t oo - v ae - l oo

t	sounds like the		't'	in 'to'
oo	sounds like the		'oo'	in 'food'
v	sounds like the		'v'	in 'very'
ae	sounds like the		'a'	in 'at'
l	sounds like the		'l'	in 'let'

Tuvalu is pronounced as: Phonetic Spelling:[ t oo - v ae - l oo ]

t	oo	-	v	ae	-	l	oo
to	food		very	at		let	food

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