How to pronounce belladonna
Say it like bel-uh-DAH-nuh. Belladonna has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce belladonna. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bel
- uh
- DAH
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Belladonna pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- belGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- DAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of belladonna
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: bel-uh-DON-uh.
What does belladonna mean?
- A plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries.
- An alkaloid extracted from this plant, sometimes used medicinally, containing atropine.
Where does belladonna come from?
Borrowed from Italian belladonna (altered by folk etymology: bella donna (“beautiful lady”)) from Medieval Latin blādōna (“nightshade”), of Gaulish origin.
Words that rhyme with belladonna
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of belladonna.
Questions about saying belladonna
How do you pronounce belladonna?
Say bel-uh-DAH-nuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌbɛləˈdɑnə/. In British English it is /ˌbɛləˈdɒnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in belladonna?
Belladonna has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DAH). Broken into parts: bel · uh · DAH · nuh.
Is belladonna pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌbɛləˈdɒnə/ (bel-uh-DON-uh).