How to pronounce vanessa
Say it like vuh-NES-uh. Vanessa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vanessa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vuh
- NES
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vanessa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of vanessa
American and British speakers say vanessa in essentially the same way: /vəˈnɛsə/ in the US and /vəˈnɛsə/ in the UK.
British respelling: vuh-NES-uh.
What does vanessa mean?
- Any butterfly of the genus Vanessa.
Where does vanessa come from?
From the genus name.
Questions about saying vanessa
How do you pronounce vanessa?
Say vuh-NES-uh. The American pronunciation is /vəˈnɛsə/. In British English it is /vəˈnɛsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vanessa?
Vanessa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NES). Broken into parts: vuh · NES · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say vanessa the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vəˈnɛsə/ and the British form is /vəˈnɛsə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.