How to pronounce savory
Say it like SAY-vuh-ree. Savory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce savory. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAY
- vuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Savory pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- vuhKeep 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 savory
American and British speakers say savory in essentially the same way: /ˈseɪvəri/ in the US and /ˈseɪvəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAY-vuh-ree.
What does savory mean?
- Tasty, attractive to the palate.“The fine restaurant presented an array of savory dishes; each was delicious.”
- Either salty or spicy, but not sweet.“The mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good savory foods.”
- Umami.“The savory rabbit soup contrasted well with the sweet cucumber sandwiches with jam.”
- A savory snack.
- Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavorings.
- The leaves of these plants used as a flavoring.
Where does savory come from?
From the Middle English savory, savourie, from Old French savouré, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, from Latin sapor (“taste, flavor”), from sapiō, sapere (“taste of, have a flavor of”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- savoury
Opposite meaning
- unsavory
Words that rhyme with savory
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of savory.
Questions about saying savory
How do you pronounce savory?
Say SAY-vuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈseɪvəri/. In British English it is /ˈseɪvəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in savory?
Savory has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY). Broken into parts: SAY · vuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say savory the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈseɪvəri/ and the British form is /ˈseɪvəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.