How to pronounce rosemary
Say it like ROHZ-mer-ee. Rosemary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROHZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rosemary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROHZ
- mer
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rosemary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROHZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- merGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of rosemary
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ROHZ-muh-ree.
What does rosemary mean?
- widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery
- extremely pungent leaves used fresh or dried as seasoning for especially meats
Where does rosemary come from?
From Middle English rosmary, rosemarye, alteration (based on rose + Mary) of earlier Middle English rosmarine, rosemaryn, partly from Old French rosmarin, partly directly from Latin rōsmarīnus (“rosemary”), from rōs (“dew, moisture”) + marī
Questions about saying rosemary
How do you pronounce rosemary?
Say ROHZ-mer-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈroʊzˌmɛri/. In British English it is /ˈrəʊzməri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rosemary?
Rosemary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROHZ). Broken into parts: ROHZ · mer · ee.
Is rosemary 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 /ˈrəʊzməri/ (ROHZ-muh-ree).