How to pronounce rosary
Say it like ROH-zuh-ree. Rosary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rosary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROH
- zuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rosary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- zuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of rosary
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ROH-zuh-ree.
What does rosary mean?
- Prayer beads, a string of beads used to keep track of repetitions in prayer, particularly of the Roman Catholic Marian prayer "Hail Mary" (Ave Maria).
- A Roman Catholic devotion involving the repetition of a series of Marian prayers, usually 5, 15, or 20 decades of "Hail Marys", each decade beginning with "Our Father" and ending with "Glory Be to the Father", but sometimes including other Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Lutheran prayers.
- A series or collection of thoughts, literary pieces, etc. intended for similar contemplation.
Where does rosary come from?
From Middle English rosarie, from Latin rosārium, here in its sense as a garland of roses.
Questions about saying rosary
How do you pronounce rosary?
Say ROH-zuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈroʊzəri/. In British English it is /ˈrəʊzəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rosary?
Rosary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH). Broken into parts: ROH · zuh · ree.
Is rosary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈrəʊzəri/ (ROH-zuh-ree).