How to pronounce tableau
Say it like tuh-BLOH. Tableau has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BLOH).
- tuh
- BLOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tableau pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BLOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of tableau
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: TAB-loh.
What does tableau mean?
- A striking and vivid representation or scene; a picture.
- A vivid graphic scene of a group of people or objects arranged as in a painting or bas relief sculpture.
- An arrangement of actors in static positions on stage, having the effect of pointing up a particular moment in the drama, conventionally revealed by opening tableau curtains (known as "tabs").
Where does tableau come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French tableau, from Old French tablel (“a surface which is used primarily for painting”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- tableau vivant
Words that rhyme with tableau
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tableau.
Questions about saying tableau
How do you pronounce tableau?
Say tuh-BLOH. The American pronunciation is /təˈbloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈtæbləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tableau?
Tableau has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BLOH). Broken into parts: tuh · BLOH.
Is tableau pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈtæbləʊ/ (TAB-loh).