How to pronounce Ohio
Say it like oh-HY-oh. Ohio has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Ohio. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- HY
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ohio 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.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Ohio
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-HY-oh.
What does Ohio mean?
- A state of the United States. Capital and largest city: Columbus.
- A river in the United States, flowing 981 miles from the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania through Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois along state borders and emptying into the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois.
Where does Ohio come from?
From Seneca Ohi꞉yoʼ, a proper name derived from ohi꞉yo꞉h (“good river”).
Words that rhyme with Ohio
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Ohio.
Questions about saying Ohio
How do you pronounce Ohio?
Say oh-HY-oh. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/. In British English it is /əʊˈhaɪəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Ohio?
Ohio has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HY). Broken into parts: oh · HY · oh.
Is Ohio 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 /əʊˈhaɪəʊ/ (oh-HY-oh).