How to pronounce falsetto
Say it like fawl-SET-oh. Falsetto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce falsetto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fawl
- SET
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Falsetto pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- fawlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- SETSay 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 falsetto
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: fawl-SET-oh.
What does falsetto mean?
- The "false" (singing) voice in any human, usually airy and lacking a purity of vowels; created by using the next highest vocal folds above those used for speech and normal range singing. It is commonly confused with the head voice register.
- A person who sings in falsetto.
- To sing or utter in falsetto.
Where does falsetto come from?
Borrowed from Italian falsetto, from falso (“false”).
Words that rhyme with falsetto
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of falsetto.
Questions about saying falsetto
How do you pronounce falsetto?
Say fawl-SET-oh. The American pronunciation is /fɔlˈsɛtoʊ/. In British English it is /fɔːlˈsɛtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in falsetto?
Falsetto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SET). Broken into parts: fawl · SET · oh.
Is falsetto 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 /fɔːlˈsɛtəʊ/ (fawl-SET-oh).