How to pronounce tapioca
Say it like tap-ee-OH-kuh. Tapioca has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tapioca. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tap
- ee
- OH
- kuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tapioca pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tapKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tapioca
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: tap-ee-OH-kuh.
What does tapioca mean?
- A starchy food made from the cassava plant, used in puddings.
- The cassava plant, Manihot esculenta, from which tapioca is derived; manioc.
Where does tapioca come from?
Borrowed from Portuguese tapioca, from Old Tupi tapi'oka.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tapioca
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tapioca.
Questions about saying tapioca
How do you pronounce tapioca?
Say tap-ee-OH-kuh. The American pronunciation is /tæpiˈoʊkə/. In British English it is /tæpiˈəʊkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tapioca?
Tapioca has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OH). Broken into parts: tap · ee · OH · kuh.
Is tapioca pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /tæpiˈəʊkə/ (tap-ee-OH-kuh).