How to pronounce tombolo
Say it like tom-BOH-loh. Tombolo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tombolo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tom
- BOH
- loh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tombolo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tomKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- BOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- lohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of tombolo
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: tom-BOH-loh.
What does tombolo mean?
- A spit of sand linking an island to the mainland (or to another island), formed by longshore drift.
Where does tombolo come from?
From Italian tombolo (“pillow”), from Latin tumulus (“mound”), from tumeō (“to swell”).
Words that rhyme with tombolo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tombolo.
Questions about saying tombolo
How do you pronounce tombolo?
Say tom-BOH-loh. The American pronunciation is /tɑmˈboʊloʊ/. In British English it is /tɒmˈbəʊləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tombolo?
Tombolo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOH). Broken into parts: tom · BOH · loh.
Is tombolo 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 /tɒmˈbəʊləʊ/ (tom-BOH-loh).