How to pronounce bonito
Say it like buh-NEE-toh. Bonito has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bonito. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- NEE
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bonito pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bonito
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: buh-NEE-toh.
What does bonito mean?
- Any of various marine fish of the genus Sarda that are related to and resemble the tuna, but smaller.
- A large tropical fish of species Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack tuna), allied to the tunny.
- The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an edible fish of the southern United States and the West Indies.
Where does bonito come from?
Borrowed from Spanish bonito (“bonito”).
Words that rhyme with bonito
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bonito.
Questions about saying bonito
How do you pronounce bonito?
Say buh-NEE-toh. The American pronunciation is /bəˈnitoʊ/. In British English it is /bəˈniːtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bonito?
Bonito has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE). Broken into parts: buh · NEE · toh.
Is bonito 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 /bəˈniːtəʊ/ (buh-NEE-toh).