How to pronounce orzo
Say it like OR-zoh. Orzo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce orzo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- zoh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orzo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- zohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of orzo
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: AW-zoh.
What does orzo mean?
- A form of pasta the size and shape of grains of rice or barley; often used in soups.
Where does orzo come from?
Borrowed from Italian orzo (“barley”), from Latin hordeum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰr̥sdeyom (“bristly”).
Questions about saying orzo
How do you pronounce orzo?
Say OR-zoh. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrzoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈɔːzəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in orzo?
Orzo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · zoh.
Is orzo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɔːzəʊ/ (AW-zoh).