How to pronounce jo
Say it like JOH. Jo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of jo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: JOH.
What does jo mean?
- Darling, sweetheart.
- The staff used in the Japanese martial art of jodo or jojutsu.
Where does jo come from?
From Scots jo (“joy”), from Middle English joye, from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”).
Words that rhyme with jo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jo.
Questions about saying jo
How do you pronounce jo?
Say JOH. The American pronunciation is /dʒoʊ/. In British English it is /dʒəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jo?
Jo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JOH.
Is jo 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 /dʒəʊ/ (JOH).