How to pronounce plateau
Say it like pla-TOH. Plateau has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce plateau. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pla
- TOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Plateau pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- plaKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of plateau
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: PLAT-oh.
What does plateau mean?
- a relatively flat highland
Where does plateau come from?
Borrowed from French plateau, diminutive of plat (“a plate”); see plate.
Words that rhyme with plateau
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of plateau.
Questions about saying plateau
How do you pronounce plateau?
Say pla-TOH. The American pronunciation is /plæˈtoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈplætəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in plateau?
Plateau has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH). Broken into parts: pla · TOH.
Is plateau pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈplætəʊ/ (PLAT-oh).