How to pronounce lavabo
Say it like luh-VAY-boh. Lavabo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lavabo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- luh
- VAY
- boh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lavabo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- bohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of lavabo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: luh-VAY-boh.
What does lavabo mean?
- A ritual involving the washing of one's hands at a church's offertory before handling the Eucharist.
- The small towel used to dry the priest's hands following the ritual.
- A washbasin, particularly (Christianity) the one in a church used in the ritual.
Where does lavabo come from?
From the Christian ritual, which was traditionally accompanied in Catholicism by a recitation of Psalm 25:6 (Psalm 26:6, in the Hebrew and in most modern translations) which in Latin begins with the word lavābō (“I will wash”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lavabo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lavabo.
Questions about saying lavabo
How do you pronounce lavabo?
Say luh-VAY-boh. The American pronunciation is /ləˈveɪboʊ/. In British English it is /ləˈveɪbəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lavabo?
Lavabo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY). Broken into parts: luh · VAY · boh.
Is lavabo 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 /ləˈveɪbəʊ/ (luh-VAY-boh).