How to pronounce arpeggio
Say it like ar-PEJ-ee-oh. Arpeggio has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arpeggio. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ar
- PEJ
- ee
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Arpeggio pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- arKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- PEJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of arpeggio
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ah-PEJ-ee-oh.
What does arpeggio mean?
- The notes of a chord played individually instead of simultaneously, usually moving from lowest to highest.
- To play (a chord) as an arpeggio; to play (a piece of music) with arpeggios.
- To produce arpeggios; to produce sounds resembling arpeggios.
- To move (the hand or fingers) against a surface as if playing arpeggios on a keyboard; to touch different points in succession along a surface.
Where does arpeggio come from?
Borrowed from Italian arpeggio, from arpeggiare (“to play a harp”).
Questions about saying arpeggio
How do you pronounce arpeggio?
Say ar-PEJ-ee-oh. The American pronunciation is /ɑrˈpɛdʒioʊ/. In British English it is /ɑːˈpɛdʒiəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in arpeggio?
Arpeggio has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEJ). Broken into parts: ar · PEJ · ee · oh.
Is arpeggio pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɑːˈpɛdʒiəʊ/ (ah-PEJ-ee-oh).