How to pronounce siesta
Say it like see-ES-tuh. Siesta has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce siesta. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- see
- ES
- tuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Siesta pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of siesta
American and British speakers say siesta in essentially the same way: /siˈɛstə/ in the US and /siˈɛstə/ in the UK.
British respelling: see-ES-tuh.
What does siesta mean?
- A nap, especially an afternoon one taken during the hottest part of the day in some cultures.
- to take a siesta; to nap.
Where does siesta come from?
Borrowed from Spanish siesta, from Latin sexta (“the sixth hour from dawn, noon, midday”).
Words that rhyme with siesta
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of siesta.
Questions about saying siesta
How do you pronounce siesta?
Say see-ES-tuh. The American pronunciation is /siˈɛstə/. In British English it is /siˈɛstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in siesta?
Siesta has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ES). Broken into parts: see · ES · tuh.
Do Americans and Brits say siesta the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /siˈɛstə/ and the British form is /siˈɛstə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.