2 syllables: Fre, sco. Stress on Fre.
FRES-koh
/ˈfɹɛskoʊ/
Fresco is pronounced FRES-koh (/ˈfɹɛskoʊ/). It has two syllables (Fre-sco), with the stress on "Fre". Fresco is a noun referring to a technique of painting on freshly laid plaster, or to a mural painted in this method. It originated in tempera-style wall art but now denotes both the technique and any wall painting executed on wet plaster, often characterized by durable pigments that become part of the wall as the plaster dries. The term also appears in culinary contexts as the Italian word for “fresh,” though related uses are less common in English today.
nounFresco is a noun referring to a technique of painting on freshly laid plaster, or to a mural painted in this method. It originated in tempera-style wall art but now denotes both the technique and any wall painting executed on wet plaster, often characterized by durable pigments that become part of the wall as the plaster dries. The term also appears in culinary contexts as the Italian word for “fresh,” though related uses are less common in English today.
How to Pronounce Fresco
"The artist completed a large fresco depicting a pastoral scene."
"We visited the restored chapel to see the 15th-century frescoes."
"In the museum, a modern fresco integrates vibrant plasters with everyday imagery."
Pronounce as /ˈfrɛskoʊ/ in US and UK English (two syllables: FRESH-koh). The first syllable FRES has the short E as in ‘bed,’ and the second syllable ‘co’ rhymes with ‘go.’ In careful speech you’ll stress the first syllable. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, lips neutral, then raise the front of the tongue for the /r/ after the initial /f/; end with a rounded /oʊ/ glide. For listening, search for audio on Pronounce or Forvo for native Italian loanword usage.
Common mistakes: (1) Treating the second syllable as a separate ‘coo’: instead, close the glide with a rounded /oʊ/. (2) Zapping the /r/ into a tapped or trilled variant: keep a soft /ɹ/ or /ɹ/ as a rhotic approximant in American English. (3) Misplacing stress as ‘fré-sco’: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈfrɛs-/ and avoid over-emphasizing the second vowel. Correction tips: practice with minimal pairs, like ‘fresh’ and ‘go,’ then blend with /ɔʊ/ for the second syllable. Listen to native Italian loanword usage.
In US/UK, primary stress on the first syllable; /ˈfrɛskoʊ/. The /r/ is rhotic in US; non-rhotic UK speakers may reduce /r/ in non-initial position, but here it remains effectively an approximant after /f/. Australian speakers typically mirror US pronunciation but can be less rhotic in rapid speech; final /oʊ/ may reduce toward /əʊ/ depending on speaker. Overall: US tends toward /ˈfrɛskoʊ/, UK tends to similar but with subtle vowel quality shifts in /e/ and less rhotic influence; AU aligns with US in practice.
Because it blends two syllables quickly with an /r/ between /f/ and the vowel, plus a final /oʊ/ diphthong. The initial /fr/ cluster requires fast transition; the /e/ is a short front vowel while the second syllable has a rounded vowel, requiring lip rounding without adding extra consonants. The challenge is keeping the first syllable stressed while smoothly gliding into the /oʊ/ without adding an extra syllable or misplacing stress.
A unique feature is the Italian loanword element: many English speakers stress the first syllable and pronounce the second syllable with a long /oʊ/ glide, but the “e” is actually a short vowel /ɛ/ as in ‘bet.’ The correct IPA is /ˈfrɛskoʊ/. Keeping the Italian-influenced rhythm, with two distinct syllables and a clean syllable boundary between /frɛs/ and /koʊ/ helps prevent over-anglicizing the second syllable.
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Fresco derives from the Italian word fresco, meaning fresh, sich, and is related to the Latin frāx? Its core meaning centers on painting on wet plaster, allowing pigments to merge with the plaster as it sets. The technique emerged in late ancient times and flourished in the Italian Renaissance, where artists sought durable wall decorations that would endure the test of time. The first known uses appear in Italian trattati and records describing murals, with manuscripts referencing ‘affresco’ in the 14th-15th centuries. While originated in Italian practice, the term entered English in the 18th-19th centuries, maintaining a focus on mural painting on wet plaster. The word’s evolution reflects a shift from strictly traditional plaster techniques to a broader cultural concept used in art and architectural decoration, though the culinary sense of “fresh” in Italian also influences modern usage in some contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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Words that rhyme with "Fresco"
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