How to Pronounce “tomato”

American (US)

/təˈmeɪtoʊ/

British (UK)

/təˈmɑːtəʊ/

Australian (AU)

/təˈmɑː.təʊ/

noun — A red edible fruit used as a vegetable in cooking.

Example: The tomatoes ripened all at once.

Where the stress falls. “tomato” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /təˈmeɪtoʊ/ 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.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /təˈmeɪtoʊ/ 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 "tomato" mean?

tomato (noun): A red edible fruit used as a vegetable in cooking. For example — The tomatoes ripened all at once.

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

American English: /təˈmeɪtoʊ/. British English: /təˈmɑːtəʊ/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "tomato"?

/təˈmeɪtoʊ/ in American English, /təˈmɑːtəʊ/ in British English, /təˈmɑː.təʊ/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "tomato"?

“tomato” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /təˈmeɪtoʊ/ 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.

• US vs UK vowel words