How to pronounce Tokyo
Say it like TOH-kee-oh. Tokyo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Tokyo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈtoʊkiˌoʊ/TOH-kee-oh
UK British/ˈtəʊkɪəʊ/TOH-kih-oh
- TOH
- kee
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tokyo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Tokyo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: TOH-kih-oh.
What does Tokyo mean?
proper noun
- A prefecture and capital city of Japan.
Questions about saying Tokyo
How do you pronounce Tokyo?
Say TOH-kee-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈtoʊkiˌoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈtəʊkɪəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Tokyo?
Tokyo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOH). Broken into parts: TOH · kee · oh.
Is Tokyo 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 /ˈtəʊkɪəʊ/ (TOH-kih-oh).