How to pronounce sauna
Say it like SAW-nuh. Sauna has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sauna. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAW
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sauna pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sauna
American and British speakers say sauna in essentially the same way: /ˈsɔnə/ in the US and /ˈsɔːnə/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAW-nuh.
What does sauna mean?
- A room or a house designed for heat sessions.“The hotel has a sauna in the basement.”
- The act of using a sauna.“John had a sauna after his swim.”
- In some countries, a business with bath-like facilities that is actually a brothel or a place for (non-commercial) sexual encounters; a bathhouse or massage parlor.
- To use a sauna.
Where does sauna come from?
Borrowed from Finnish sauna.
Words that rhyme with sauna
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sauna.
Questions about saying sauna
How do you pronounce sauna?
Say SAW-nuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɔnə/. In British English it is /ˈsɔːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sauna?
Sauna has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAW). Broken into parts: SAW · nuh.
Do Americans and Brits say sauna the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɔnə/ and the British form is /ˈsɔːnə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.