How to pronounce embargo
Say it like em-BAR-goh. Embargo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce embargo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- em
- BAR
- goh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Embargo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- emKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- BARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- gohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of embargo
- 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: im-BAH-goh.
What does embargo mean?
- An order by the government prohibiting ships from leaving port.
- A ban on trade with another country.
- A temporary ban on making certain information public.“This copy of the federal budget is under embargo until 2 p.m.”
- To impose an embargo on trading certain goods with another country.
- To impose an embargo on a document.
Where does embargo come from?
From Spanish embargar (“to arrest”), from late Latin *imbarricāre (“to bar”), from Latin in- + Vulgar Latin *barra (“bar, barrier”).
Words that rhyme with embargo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of embargo.
Questions about saying embargo
How do you pronounce embargo?
Say em-BAR-goh. The American pronunciation is /ɛmˈbɑrɡoʊ/. In British English it is /ɪmˈbɑːɡəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in embargo?
Embargo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAR). Broken into parts: em · BAR · goh.
Is embargo 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 /ɪmˈbɑːɡəʊ/ (im-BAH-goh).