How to pronounce banjo
Say it like BAN-joh. Banjo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce banjo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAN
- joh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Banjo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- johGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of banjo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BAN-joh.
What does banjo mean?
- A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.“I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee...”
- Any of various similar musical instruments, such as the Tuvan doshpuluur, with a membrane-like soundboard.
- An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel.
- To play a banjo.
- To beat, to knock down.
- To shell or attack (a target).
Where does banjo come from?
From the pronunciation of African slaves, of unknown ultimate origin.
Questions about saying banjo
How do you pronounce banjo?
Say BAN-joh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbænˌdʒoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbændʒəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in banjo?
Banjo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAN). Broken into parts: BAN · joh.
Is banjo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈbændʒəʊ/ (BAN-joh).