How to pronounce Ontario
Say it like on-TER-ee-oh. Ontario has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Ontario. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- on
- TER
- ee
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ontario pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- onKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- TERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Ontario
- 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: on-TAIR-ih-oh.
What does Ontario mean?
- A province in eastern Canada. Capital: Toronto.
- A large lake in North America, between the Canadian province of Ontario and the American state of New York; one of the Great Lakes.
Where does Ontario come from?
Probably from Wyandot ontari꞉io (literally “great lake”).
Words that rhyme with Ontario
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Ontario.
Questions about saying Ontario
How do you pronounce Ontario?
Say on-TER-ee-oh. The American pronunciation is /ɑnˈtɛrioʊ/. In British English it is /ɒnˈtɛərɪəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Ontario?
Ontario has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TER). Broken into parts: on · TER · ee · oh.
Is Ontario 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 /ɒnˈtɛərɪəʊ/ (on-TAIR-ih-oh).