How to pronounce melisma
Say it like muh-LIZ-muh. Melisma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce melisma. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- LIZ
- muh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Melisma pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LIZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of melisma
American and British speakers say melisma in essentially the same way: /məˈlɪzmə/ in the US and /məˈlɪzmə/ in the UK.
British respelling: muh-LIZ-muh.
What does melisma mean?
- A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text.
- The use of such passages.
Words that rhyme with melisma
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of melisma.
Questions about saying melisma
How do you pronounce melisma?
Say muh-LIZ-muh. The American pronunciation is /məˈlɪzmə/. In British English it is /məˈlɪzmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in melisma?
Melisma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIZ). Broken into parts: muh · LIZ · muh.
Do Americans and Brits say melisma the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /məˈlɪzmə/ and the British form is /məˈlɪzmə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.