How to pronounce pneumonia
Say it like noo-MOH-nyuh. Pneumonia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pneumonia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- noo
- MOH
- nyuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The p is silent, so the word starts with an 'n' sound: 'noo-MOH-nyuh'.
Pneumonia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pneumonia
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: nyoo-MOH-nee-uh.
What does pneumonia mean?
- respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants
Words that rhyme with pneumonia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pneumonia.
Questions about saying pneumonia
How do you pronounce pneumonia?
Say noo-MOH-nyuh. The American pronunciation is /nuˈmoʊnjə/. In British English it is /njuˈməʊniə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pneumonia?
Pneumonia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH). Broken into parts: noo · MOH · nyuh.
Is pneumonia pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4. The British form is /njuˈməʊniə/ (nyoo-MOH-nee-uh).