How to Pronounce “restaurant”

American (US)

/ˈrestərɑːnt/

British (UK)

/ˈrestərɒnt/

noun — A place where meals are prepared and served to customers.

Example: The restaurant takes bookings a month ahead.

Where the stress falls. “restaurant” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈrestərɑːnt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈrestərɑːnt/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "restaurant" mean?

restaurant (noun): A place where meals are prepared and served to customers. For example — The restaurant takes bookings a month ahead.

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

American English: /ˈrestərɑːnt/. British English: /ˈrestərɒnt/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "restaurant"?

/ˈrestərɑːnt/ in American English, /ˈrestərɒnt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "restaurant"?

“restaurant” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈrestərɑːnt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• Words that lose a syllable