How to pronounce persona
Say it like per-SOH-nuh. Persona has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce persona. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SOH
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Persona pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of persona
- 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: pur-SOH-nuh.
What does persona mean?
- an actor's portrayal of someone in a play“she played the part of Desdemona”
- (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world“a public image is as fragile as Humpty Dumpty”
Where does persona come from?
Borrowed from Latin persōna (“mask; character”), of uncertain origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with persona
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of persona.
Questions about saying persona
How do you pronounce persona?
Say per-SOH-nuh. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsoʊnə/. In British English it is /pɜːˈsəʊnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in persona?
Persona has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOH). Broken into parts: per · SOH · nuh.
Is persona 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 /pɜːˈsəʊnə/ (pur-SOH-nuh).