How to pronounce mesa
Say it like MAY-suh. Mesa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
- MAY
- suh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mesa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mesa
American and British speakers say mesa in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪsə/ in the US and /ˈmeɪsə/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-suh.
What does mesa mean?
- flat tableland with steep edges“the tribe was relatively safe on the mesa but they had to descend into the valley for water”
- a city in Arizona just to the east of Phoenix; originally a suburb of Phoenix
Where does mesa come from?
First attested 1759, from Spanish mesa (“table”), from Latin mēnsa.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with mesa
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mesa.
Questions about saying mesa
How do you pronounce mesa?
Say MAY-suh. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪsə/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mesa?
Mesa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · suh.
Do Americans and Brits say mesa the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪsə/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪsə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.