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Tuvalu

Syllabification: (Tu·va·lu)

Pronunciation: /to͞oˈvälo͞o/

Definition of Tuvalu

a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that consists of a group of nine main islands, formerly called the Ellice Islands; population 12,400 (est. 2009); capital, Funafuti; languages, English and Tuvaluan (both official).

The islands formed part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands but separated from the Gilberts after a referendum in 1975. Tuvalu became independent within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1978