How to pronounce Formosa
Say it like for-MOH-suh. Formosa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Formosa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- for
- MOH
- suh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Formosa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- forKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Formosa
- 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: faw-MOH-suh.
What does Formosa mean?
- Synonym of Taiwan: an island of East Asia.
- A province of Taiwan (Republic of China) (from 1945).
- A claimed province of China (People's Republic of China or mainland China) (from 1949).
- A province of Argentina around the city.
Where does Formosa come from?
The Brazilian city was named in honor of Empress Teresa Cristina, in the 1840s.
Words that rhyme with Formosa
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Formosa.
Questions about saying Formosa
How do you pronounce Formosa?
Say for-MOH-suh. The American pronunciation is /fɔrˈmoʊsə/. In British English it is /fɔːˈməʊsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Formosa?
Formosa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH). Broken into parts: for · MOH · suh.
Is Formosa 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 /fɔːˈməʊsə/ (faw-MOH-suh).