How to pronounce Pollyanna
Say it like pol-ee-AN-uh. Pollyanna has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (AN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Pollyanna. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- AN
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pollyanna pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- polGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Pollyanna
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ee-AN-uh.
What does Pollyanna mean?
- One who is persistently cheerful and optimistic, even when given cause not to be so.
- A secret Santa gift exchange.
Words that rhyme with Pollyanna
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Pollyanna.
Questions about saying Pollyanna
How do you pronounce Pollyanna?
Say pol-ee-AN-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑliˈænə/. In British English it is /ˌpɒliˈænə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Pollyanna?
Pollyanna has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (AN). Broken into parts: pol · ee · AN · uh.
Is Pollyanna pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌpɒliˈænə/ (pol-ee-AN-uh).