How to pronounce Toronto
Say it like tuh-RON-toh. Toronto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Toronto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tuh
- RON
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Toronto 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.
- RONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Toronto
- 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: tuh-RON-toh.
What does Toronto mean?
- The capital city of Ontario, Canada and the largest city in Canada.
Where does Toronto come from?
From Mohawk tkaronto (“where trees stand in water”), originally referring to the strait between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching.
Words that rhyme with Toronto
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Toronto.
Questions about saying Toronto
How do you pronounce Toronto?
Say tuh-RON-toh. The American pronunciation is /təˈrɑntoʊ/. In British English it is /təˈrɒntəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Toronto?
Toronto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RON). Broken into parts: tuh · RON · toh.
Is Toronto 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 /təˈrɒntəʊ/ (tuh-RON-toh).