How to pronounce Odessa
Say it like oh-DES-uh. Odessa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DES).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Odessa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/oʊˈdɛsə/oh-DES-uh
UK British/əʊˈdɛsə/oh-DES-uh
- oh
- DES
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Odessa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- DESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Odessa
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-DES-uh.
What does Odessa mean?
proper noun
- A port city, the administrative center of Odessa Raion and Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, situated on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea.
- A raion of Odesa Oblast, Ukraine. Capital: Odessa.
- An oblast of Ukraine. Capital: Odessa.
Questions about saying Odessa
How do you pronounce Odessa?
Say oh-DES-uh. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈdɛsə/. In British English it is /əʊˈdɛsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Odessa?
Odessa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DES). Broken into parts: oh · DES · uh.
Is Odessa pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əʊˈdɛsə/ (oh-DES-uh).