How to Pronounce “espresso”

American (US)

/eˈspreʊoʊ/

British (UK)

/eˈspresəʊ/

noun — Strong coffee made by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground beans.

Example: He drinks a single espresso after lunch.

A loanword from Italian. There is no r in the first syllable: it is es-, not ex-. The frequent “expresso” is contamination from the unrelated English word “express”.

Where the stress falls. “espresso” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /eˈspreʊoʊ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

What does "espresso" mean?

espresso (noun): Strong coffee made by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground beans. For example — He drinks a single espresso after lunch.

How do you pronounce "espresso" in American vs British English?

American English: /eˈspreʊoʊ/. British English: /eˈspresəʊ/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "espresso"?

/eˈspreʊoʊ/ in American English, /eˈspresəʊ/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "espresso"?

“espresso” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /eˈspreʊoʊ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

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