How to pronounce cannoli
Say it like kuh-NOH-lee. Cannoli has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cannoli. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- NOH
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cannoli 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.
- NOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cannoli
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ka-NOH-lih.
What does cannoli mean?
- A tube of fried pastry, typical of Sicily, filled with ricotta or similar cream cheese, and flavorings, eaten as a dessert.
- plural of cannolo
Where does cannoli come from?
Borrowed from Italian cannoli (plural of cannolo) or Sicilian cannoli (plural of cannolu); see there for more.
Words that rhyme with cannoli
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cannoli.
Questions about saying cannoli
How do you pronounce cannoli?
Say kuh-NOH-lee. The American pronunciation is /kəˈnoʊli/. In British English it is /kæˈnəʊlɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cannoli?
Cannoli has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOH). Broken into parts: kuh · NOH · lee.
Is cannoli 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 /kæˈnəʊlɪ/ (ka-NOH-lih).