2 syllables: bra, vo. Stress on bra.
BRAH-voh
/ˈbɹɑvoʊ/
bravo is pronounced BRAH-voh (/ˈbɹɑvoʊ/). It has two syllables (bra-vo), with the stress on "bra". Bravo is an interjection or adjective used to praise or acknowledge a performance or achievement, and can also function as a friendly, emphatic exclamation. In speech, it’s often spoken with a clear, quick syllabic rhythm and a rising tone on the final syllable, signaling approval or enthusiasm. The term originated from Italian, sharing roots with celebration and martial acclaim.
Bravo is an interjection or adjective used to praise or acknowledge a performance or achievement, and can also function as a friendly, emphatic exclamation. In speech, it’s often spoken with a clear, quick syllabic rhythm and a rising tone on the final syllable, signaling approval or enthusiasm. The term originated from Italian, sharing roots with celebration and martial acclaim.
- You often tilt toward a soft, muted first syllable /bræ/ or accidentally reduce the first vowel; fix by opening your jaw and focusing on /ɑː/ as in 'car'. - In natural speech, the second syllable can slip into a quick /və/; to correct, enunciate the /voʊ/ or /vo/ with a clear lip rounding and a gentle glide into the end. - Some learners blend /br/ and /ɑː/ too tightly, producing a compressed BRĀ. Separate the consonant blend cleanly, then release into the open back vowel. - Another pitfall is over-projecting the second syllable; let it be light but audible, not swallowed. Practice with a strong but brief second-stages to maintain rhythm.
"- The crowd cried, Bravo! after the flawless solo performance."
"- She delivered a bravo toast to celebrate the team's success."
"- His bravo comment showed confident approval of the plan."
Pronounce it as BRAV-oh, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈbrɑː.voʊ/ or /ˈbrɑːvə/ depending on the speaker and dialect. Start with an open back low vowel /ɑː/ like 'car,' then land on /voʊ/ for the second syllable; ensure the second syllable is light and unstressed in some fast speech. You’ll center the lips for /ɑː/ and then move to a rounded, tense /oʊ/ or a schwa before it if you’re reducing in rapid speech. Practice by saying “BRAR-voh” with a crisp release on the first syllable.”,
Common errors: 1) Placing stress on the second syllable (brá-vo) instead of BRÁ-vo. Correction: emphasize the first syllable with a strong, clear /ˈbrɑː/; 2) Using a short /ɑ/ or a lax vowel in the first syllable (like /bræ/). Correction: use the open back /ɑː/; 3) Ending with a muted /o/ or /ə/ (brav-uh) instead of a full /voʊ/ or /vo/ end. Correction: close the second syllable with a clear /oʊ/ or /o/ to avoid a trailing vowel.”,
In US, /ˈbrɑːˌvoʊ/ with a rhotic /r/ and a long, rounded second syllable /oʊ/. In UK, /ˈbrɑːvə/ often with a shorter second syllable and a schwa-like ending, less vowel rounding in rapid speech. In Australian English, /ˈbrɑːvə/ or /ˈbrɑːvoʊ/ with non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers but commonly a faint /r/ in careful speech; vowel quality is similar to UK but with Australian vowel shifts: /ɑː/ resembles /ɒː/ for some speakers. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable; the main variance is the second syllable vowel length and rhoticity. IPA references provide a consistent anchor: /ˈbrɑː.voʊ/ (US), /ˈbrɑːvə/ (UK), /ˈbrɑːvə/ (AU).
The difficulty often lies in achieving a stable, open back vowel /ɑː/ in the first syllable while smoothly transitioning to a rounded, tense /oʊ/ or a schwa ending. Many speakers over- or under-rounds the lips, or place too much emphasis on the second syllable. Additionally, rapid speech can reduce the second syllable to a schwa or elide it, altering the intended rhythm. Precision with vowel height, lip rounding, and duration is essential to avoid a clipped or misaccented BRÁ-vo. IPA cues help you monitor the exact phonetic targets and transitions.
A unique query is whether the second syllable can be pronounced as /vo/ or /və/. In careful, formal speech, /voʊ/ or /vo/ is preferred; in fast or casual contexts, many speakers reduce to an unstressed /və/ or /vö/ with a shorter duration. The crucial detail is maintaining the first syllable stress and ensuring the /v/ is clearly audible as a consonant closing the first syllable. This ensures listeners perceive BRÁ-vo clearly, even when the second syllable is reduced.
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- US: emphasize /ˈbrɑː.voʊ/ with a full, rounded /oʊ/ in the second syllable; keep rhotic fetch as needed in careful speech. - UK: /ˈbrɑː.və/ with a shorter, unstressed second syllable; avoid a heavy /oʊ/ and instead use a near-schwa /ə/ but keep the /v/ clearly audible. - AU: /ˈbrɑː.və/ or /ˈbrɑː.voʊ/; often non-rhotic; focus on crisp /br/ onset and a bright /ə/ or /oʊ/ depending on the speaker. Refer to IPA guidance, ensure non-rhotic tendencies don’t erase the /v/ sound. - Vowel shifts: ensure /ɑː/ is open but not too low. Mouth posture: jaw drop comfortable, lips neutral for /ˈbrɑː/ and relax lips into /və/ or /voʊ/.
Bravo comes from the Italian word bravo, meaning bold, skilled, or brave. Historically, 'bravo' in Italian signified a bold man or a skilled actor; it was used in the theatre and elsewhere to acknowledge a good performance. The exclamatory use spread into other languages through opera and stage culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. English borrowed the term as both an interjection applauding performances and, less commonly, an adjective meaning admirable or excellent. The spelling remained consistent with Italian, while pronunciation anglicized over time. First known usages in English appear in the late 18th to early 19th centuries in theatre circles, echoing the celebratory nature of Italian opera crowds and the tradition of shouting ‘bravo!’ to commend a virtuoso display. Today, bravo retains both the celebratory exclamation and occasional descriptive usage, especially in arts and sports contexts, often without translation in multilingual settings.
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Words that rhyme with "bravo"
-avo sounds
-rd) sounds
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