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How to pronounce viva

Say it like VEE-vuh. Viva has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEE).

VoiceSpeed

Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce viva. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/ˈvivə/VEE-vuh
UK British/ˈviːvə/VEE-vuh
  • VEE
  • vuh
  • Main stress
  • Lighter stress
  • Unstressed

Viva pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

  1. VEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
  2. vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.

American vs British pronunciation of viva

American and British speakers say viva in essentially the same way: /ˈvivə/ in the US and /ˈviːvə/ in the UK.

British respelling: VEE-vuh.

What does viva mean?

interjection
  1. Long live ... ! (used to express acclaim or support).
verb
  1. To cheer, applaud
noun
  1. A shout of applause.

Where does viva come from?

Borrowed from Spanish viva and Italian viva.

Similar and opposite words

Similar meaning

Words that rhyme with viva

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of viva.

Questions about saying viva

How do you pronounce viva?

Say VEE-vuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈvivə/. In British English it is /ˈviːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in viva?

Viva has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEE). Broken into parts: VEE · vuh.

Do Americans and Brits say viva the same way?

Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvivə/ and the British form is /ˈviːvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.

Pronunciation from CMUdict; meaning and origin adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).