How to pronounce sonnet
Say it like SON-it. Sonnet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SON).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈsɑnɪt/SON-it
UK British/ˈsɒnɪt/SON-it
- SON
- it
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sonnet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- itKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of sonnet
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: SON-it.
What does sonnet mean?
noun
- A fixed verse form of Italian origin consisting of fourteen lines that are typically five-foot iambics and rhyme according to one of a few prescribed schemes.
- To compose sonnets.
- To celebrate in sonnets; to write a sonnet about.
Where does sonnet come from?
Borrowed from Middle French sonnet, from Italian sonetto, from Old Occitan sonet (“a song”), diminutive of son (“song, sound”), from Latin sonus (“sound”).
Questions about saying sonnet
How do you pronounce sonnet?
Say SON-it. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɑnɪt/. In British English it is /ˈsɒnɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sonnet?
Sonnet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SON). Broken into parts: SON · it.
Is sonnet pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈsɒnɪt/ (SON-it).