How to pronounce tobacco
Say it like tuh-BAK-oh. Tobacco has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tobacco. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tuh
- BAK
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tobacco 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.
- BAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of tobacco
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: tuh-BAK-oh.
What does tobacco mean?
- leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
- aromatic annual or perennial herbs and shrubs
Where does tobacco come from?
Attested since 1588, borrowed from Spanish tabaco.
Words that rhyme with tobacco
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tobacco.
Questions about saying tobacco
How do you pronounce tobacco?
Say tuh-BAK-oh. The American pronunciation is /təˈbæˌkoʊ/. In British English it is /təˈbæˌkəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tobacco?
Tobacco has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAK). Broken into parts: tuh · BAK · oh.
Is tobacco 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 /təˈbæˌkəʊ/ (tuh-BAK-oh).