How to pronounce calypso
Say it like kuh-LIP-soh. Calypso has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce calypso. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- LIP
- soh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Calypso pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- sohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of calypso
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kuh-LIP-soh.
What does calypso mean?
- A style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century.
- A song in this style of music.
- A bulbous bog orchid of the genus Calypso, Calypso bulbosa
- A light blue color.
- To perform calypso.
Where does calypso come from?
Originally Trinidad English, an alteration of kaiso, perhaps ultimately of African origin; Allsopp 1996 suggests Ibibio ka iso (“come on”), used to urge dancers on.
Questions about saying calypso
How do you pronounce calypso?
Say kuh-LIP-soh. The American pronunciation is /kəˈlɪpsoʊ/. In British English it is /kəˈlɪpsəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in calypso?
Calypso has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIP). Broken into parts: kuh · LIP · soh.
Is calypso 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 /kəˈlɪpsəʊ/ (kuh-LIP-soh).