How to pronounce liao
Say it like lee-OW. Liao has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liao. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- lee
- OW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liao pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- OWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of liao
American and British speakers say liao in essentially the same way: /liˈaʊ/ in the US and /liˈaʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: lee-OW.
What does liao mean?
- Indicates action completion, or more generally, perfective aspect.“I run 4 laps liao.”
- Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect (see usage notes).“It’s going to rain liao.”
- Used to emphasize that something has to be done now.“Go liao!”
- Meats, vegetables, and other ingredients added to an otherwise plain dish.
Words that rhyme with liao
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liao.
Questions about saying liao
How do you pronounce liao?
Say lee-OW. The American pronunciation is /liˈaʊ/. In British English it is /liˈaʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liao?
Liao has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OW). Broken into parts: lee · OW.
Do Americans and Brits say liao the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /liˈaʊ/ and the British form is /liˈaʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.