How to pronounce fossa
Say it like FAH-suh. Fossa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAH).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈfɑsə/FAH-suh
UK British/ˈfɒsə/FOS-uh
- FAH
- suh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fossa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fossa
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: FOS-uh.
What does fossa mean?
noun
- A pit, groove, cavity, or depression.
- A long, narrow, shallow depression on the body of an extraterrestrial body, such as a planet or moon.
- A large nocturnal reddish-brown catlike mammal (Cryptoprocta ferox) of the civet family, endemic to the rainforests of Madagascar. It is slender, long-tailed and has retractile claws and anal scent glands.
Where does fossa come from?
Unadapted borrowing from Latin fossa (“a ditch, trench, fosse”).
Words that rhyme with fossa
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fossa.
Questions about saying fossa
How do you pronounce fossa?
Say FAH-suh. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɑsə/. In British English it is /ˈfɒsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fossa?
Fossa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAH). Broken into parts: FAH · suh.
Is fossa pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈfɒsə/ (FOS-uh).