How to pronounce cello
Say it like CHEL-oh. Cello has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cello. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHEL
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cello pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of cello
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: CHEL-oh.
What does cello mean?
- A large unfretted stringed instrument of the violin family with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) C-G-D-A and an endpin to support its weight, usually played with a bow.
- cellophane
Where does cello come from?
Clipping of violoncello, the original name, from Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone (“big viola”) itself being derived from viola + -one
Words that rhyme with cello
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cello.
Questions about saying cello
How do you pronounce cello?
Say CHEL-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃɛloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈtʃɛləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cello?
Cello has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHEL). Broken into parts: CHEL · oh.
Is cello 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 /ˈtʃɛləʊ/ (CHEL-oh).