How to pronounce palmetto
Say it like pal-MET-oh. Palmetto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce palmetto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pal
- MET
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Palmetto pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- palKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- METSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of palmetto
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pal-MET-oh.
What does palmetto mean?
- Any of various fan palms of the family Arecaceae, especially Sabal palmetto or the saw palmetto, Serenoa repens.
- A hat made of palmetto leaves.
- A native or resident of the US state of South Carolina.
Where does palmetto come from?
From Spanish palmito, diminutive of palma (“palm tree”), from Latin palma.
Words that rhyme with palmetto
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of palmetto.
Questions about saying palmetto
How do you pronounce palmetto?
Say pal-MET-oh. The American pronunciation is /pælˈmɛtoʊ/. In British English it is /pælˈmɛtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in palmetto?
Palmetto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MET). Broken into parts: pal · MET · oh.
Is palmetto 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 /pælˈmɛtəʊ/ (pal-MET-oh).