How to pronounce restaurant
Say it like RES-tuh-rahnt. Restaurant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce restaurant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RES
- tuh
- rahnt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Restaurant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rahntGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of restaurant
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: RES-tuh-ront.
What does restaurant mean?
- a building where people go to eat
Where does restaurant come from?
Borrowed from French restaurant, present participle of the verb restaurer, corresponding to Latin restaurans, restaurantis, present participle of restauro (“to restore”), from the name of the 'restorative' soup served in the first establishments.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying restaurant
How do you pronounce restaurant?
Say RES-tuh-rahnt. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɛstəˌrɑnt/. In British English it is /ˈrɛstəˌrɒnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in restaurant?
Restaurant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RES). Broken into parts: RES · tuh · rahnt.
Is restaurant 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 /ˈrɛstəˌrɒnt/ (RES-tuh-ront).