How to pronounce cargo
Say it like KAR-goh. Cargo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cargo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAR
- goh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cargo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- gohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of cargo
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: KAH-goh.
What does cargo mean?
- goods carried by a large vehicle
Where does cargo come from?
Borrowed from Spanish cargo (“load, burden”), from cargar (“to load”), from Late Latin carricō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cargo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cargo.
Questions about saying cargo
How do you pronounce cargo?
Say KAR-goh. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑrˌɡoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈkɑːˌɡəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cargo?
Cargo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR). Broken into parts: KAR · goh.
Is cargo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkɑːˌɡəʊ/ (KAH-goh).