How to pronounce volcano
Say it like vahl-KAY-noh. Volcano has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce volcano. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vahl
- KAY
- noh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Volcano pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vahlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- nohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of volcano
- 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: vol-KAY-noh.
What does volcano mean?
- a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
- a mountain formed by volcanic material
Where does volcano come from?
From Italian vulcano, from Vulcano (“a small volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea”), from Latin Vulcānus (“Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying volcano
How do you pronounce volcano?
Say vahl-KAY-noh. The American pronunciation is /vɑlˈkeɪnoʊ/. In British English it is /vɒlˈkeɪnəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in volcano?
Volcano has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: vahl · KAY · noh.
Is volcano 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 /vɒlˈkeɪnəʊ/ (vol-KAY-noh).