How to pronounce passacaglia
Say it like pah-suh-KAH-lyuh. Passacaglia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce passacaglia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pah
- suh
- KAH
- lyuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Passacaglia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- lyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of passacaglia
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 5.
British respelling: pas-uh-KAH-lih-uh.
What does passacaglia mean?
- A form of historical Spanish or Italian dance characterised by a serious nature, triple meter, and use of a ground bass.
- Any piece of classical music with similar characteristics.
Where does passacaglia come from?
Borrowed from Italian passacaglia, from Spanish pasacalle, from pasar (“to pass”) + calle (“street”).
Words that rhyme with passacaglia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of passacaglia.
Questions about saying passacaglia
How do you pronounce passacaglia?
Say pah-suh-KAH-lyuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑsəˈkɑljə/. In British English it is /ˌpæsəˈkɑːlɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in passacaglia?
Passacaglia has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAH). Broken into parts: pah · suh · KAH · lyuh.
Is passacaglia pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 5. The British form is /ˌpæsəˈkɑːlɪə/ (pas-uh-KAH-lih-uh).