How to pronounce yo
Say it like YOH. Yo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- YOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of yo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: YOH.
What does yo mean?
- A greeting similar to hi.“Yo Paulie! How's it going?”
- An interjection similar to hey.“Yo, check this out!”
- An expression of surprise or excitement.“Yo, that's crazy, but I don't remember asking.”
- Pronunciation spelling of your.“Yo sandwich has only bacon in it. Want some ketchup on that?”
- Generic third-person singular pronoun (primarily used in place of he and she).“Is dat yo mama? What's yo doin' in here??”
Where does yo come from?
Modern popularity apparently dates from the early 20th century in Philadelphia, PA; amongst the Italian Community there, where io, with (as opposed to in standard Italian language) the stress on the ultima, was a common salutatory response
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with yo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of yo.
Words that sound like yo
- yau
Questions about saying yo
How do you pronounce yo?
Say YOH. The American pronunciation is /joʊ/. In British English it is /jəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yo?
Yo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YOH.
Is yo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /jəʊ/ (YOH).
What words sound the same as yo?
Yo sounds the same as yau in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.