How to Pronounce “yoga”

American (US)

/ˈjoʊ.ɡə/

noun — A discipline of postures, breathing and meditation originating in India.

Example: He does yoga before work three days a week.

Where the stress falls. “yoga” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ 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. /ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ 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 "yoga" mean?

yoga (noun): A discipline of postures, breathing and meditation originating in India. For example — He does yoga before work three days a week.

What is the IPA transcription of "yoga"?

/ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ in American English.

Which syllable is stressed in "yoga"?

“yoga” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ 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.