How to pronounce scherzo
Say it like SKAIRT-soh. Scherzo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAIRT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scherzo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAIRT
- soh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scherzo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKAIRTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of scherzo
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SKAIRT-soh.
What does scherzo mean?
- A piece of music or a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony; especially, a piece of music played in a playful manner.
Where does scherzo come from?
Borrowed from Italian scherzo (“joke, play”), from scherzare (“to joke, jest”), from Lombardic *skerzan (“to jump merrily, enjoy oneself, jest”), from Proto-Germanic *skertaną (“to hop, jump”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerǝd- (“to dance, jump”).
Questions about saying scherzo
How do you pronounce scherzo?
Say SKAIRT-soh. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɛrtˌsoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈskɛətsəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scherzo?
Scherzo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAIRT). Broken into parts: SKAIRT · soh.
Is scherzo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈskɛətsəʊ/ (SKAIRT-soh).