How to pronounce Montenegro
Say it like mon-tuh-NAY-groh. Montenegro has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Montenegro. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mon
- tuh
- NAY
- groh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Montenegro pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- monGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- grohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Montenegro
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: mon-tih-NEE-groh.
What does Montenegro mean?
- A country on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. Capital and largest city: Podgorica. Part of Yugoslavia until 2003, then part of Serbia and Montenegro until 2006.
Where does Montenegro come from?
Borrowed from Venetan Montenegro (from mónte + negro, literally “black mountain”), a calque of Serbo-Croatian Cȓnā Gòra, referring to Mount Lovćen.
Questions about saying Montenegro
How do you pronounce Montenegro?
Say mon-tuh-NAY-groh. The American pronunciation is /ˌmɑntəˈneɪɡroʊ/. In British English it is /ˌmɒntɪˈniːɡrəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Montenegro?
Montenegro has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY). Broken into parts: mon · tuh · NAY · groh.
Is Montenegro pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌmɒntɪˈniːɡrəʊ/ (mon-tih-NEE-groh).