How to pronounce cognac
Say it like KOH-nyak. Cognac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cognac. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOH
- nyak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cognac pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nyakGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cognac
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: KOH-nyak.
Other ways to say cognac
Cognac also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAH-nyak /ˈkɑˌnjæk/
What does cognac mean?
- A brandy distilled from white wine in the region around Cognac in France.“Major manufacturers add a small proportion of caramel to color their cognacs.”
- A dark orangish brown color.
Where does cognac come from?
Borrowed from French cognac, from Cognac, a city in France, from Medieval Latin Comniacum, from the name Cominius + Gallo-Roman suffix -acum, from Proto-Celtic *-ākom.
Questions about saying cognac
How do you pronounce cognac?
Say KOH-nyak. The American pronunciation is /ˈkoʊˌnjæk/. In British English it is /ˈkəʊˌnjæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cognac?
Cognac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOH). Broken into parts: KOH · nyak.
Is cognac 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 /ˈkəʊˌnjæk/ (KOH-nyak).