How to pronounce mao
Say it like MOW. Mao 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 mao. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mao pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of mao
American and British speakers say mao in essentially the same way: /maʊ/ in the US and /maʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: MOW.
What does mao mean?
- The ma'oma'o, Gymnomyza samoensis, a large passerine bird native to Samoa.
- A fairy chess piece which moves identically to the xiangqi horse, moving one square orthogonally and then one square diagonally at a 135 degree angle. Similar to the chess knight, but has more limited movement as its movement can be obstructed by an intervening piece.
Where does mao come from?
Borrowed from Samoan ma'o, from ma'oma'o.
Words that rhyme with mao
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mao.
Questions about saying mao
How do you pronounce mao?
Say MOW. The American pronunciation is /maʊ/. In British English it is /maʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mao?
Mao is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MOW.
Do Americans and Brits say mao the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /maʊ/ and the British form is /maʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.