How to pronounce piranha
Say it like pih-RAH-nyuh. Piranha has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce piranha. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pih
- RAH
- nyuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Piranha pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- RAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of piranha
American and British speakers say piranha in essentially the same way: /pɪˈrɑnjə/ in the US and /pɪˈrɑːnə/ in the UK.
British respelling: pih-RAH-nuh.
What does piranha mean?
- Any of certain freshwater fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae, native to South America; they are characterized by razor-sharp teeth and a reputation of being ferocious predators (despite most species being omnivorous).
Where does piranha come from?
First attested in 1869.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with piranha
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of piranha.
Questions about saying piranha
How do you pronounce piranha?
Say pih-RAH-nyuh. The American pronunciation is /pɪˈrɑnjə/. In British English it is /pɪˈrɑːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in piranha?
Piranha has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAH). Broken into parts: pih · RAH · nyuh.
Do Americans and Brits say piranha the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɪˈrɑnjə/ and the British form is /pɪˈrɑːnə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.