3 syllables: Ge, no, a. Stress on Ge.
JEN-oh-uh
/ˈdʒɛnoʊə/
Genoa is pronounced JEN-oh-uh (/ˈdʒɛnoʊə/). It has three syllables (Ge-no-a), with the stress on "Ge". Genoa is a proper noun referring to a major port city in northwest Italy (Liguria). In English, it is typically pronounced as a two-syllable name, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The term is used both for the city and, less commonly, in historical or cultural contexts related to Genoa. It is distinct from the Italian city-name pronunciation when used in English discourse.
nounGenoa is a proper noun referring to a major port city in northwest Italy (Liguria). In English, it is typically pronounced as a two-syllable name, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The term is used both for the city and, less commonly, in historical or cultural contexts related to Genoa. It is distinct from the Italian city-name pronunciation when used in English discourse.
"I have a business trip to Genoa next month."
"Genoa's historic harbor is a frequent subject of travel guides."
"She grew up singing about Genoa in classical pieces."
US/UK/AU pronunciation follows a two-syllable pattern: /dʒəˈnoʊ.ə/ (US) or /dʒɪˈnəʊ.ə/ (UK/AU). Primary stress is on the second syllable in many American sources? Actually, the common pattern is je-NO-ah with stress on the second syllable: de-TAIL says ˈdʒəˈnoʊə? Wait—this requires precise guidance: Most dictionaries mark GEN-oh-uh with primary stress on the second syllable: /dʒɪˈnoʊə/ or /dʒəˈnoʊə/. In practice, emphasize the second syllable: je-NO-ah. Listen for a short first syllable and a clearer, stronger second. Use the /dʒ/ onset, the unstressed first syllable, and the long -o- in -no- and a schwa or reduced -ə in the final -a. Audio reference: check Pronounce or Cambridge Audio Pron.
Common mistakes: (1) Stress on the first syllable: de-NO-a. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable: je-NO-a. (2) Using a hard di- or go- ending: avoid 'JEE-noh-ah' or 'JEN-oh-AY'. Correction: end with a light 'ə' in the final syllable. (3) Mispronouncing the initial 'G' as a hard 'g' in some contexts; use the soft 'j' sound /dʒ/.
US: commonly /dʒɪˈnoʊə/ or /dʒəˈnoʊə/ with rhotic or non-rhotic tendencies; UK: /dʒɪˈnəʊ.ə/ with the diphthong /əʊ/; AU: usually /dʒɪˈnəʊə/ similar to UK, but with Australian vowel quality. The first syllable tends to be unstressed in some dialects, while the second carries primary stress. Final -a is often reduced to a schwa.
Difficulties include locating the primary stress on the second syllable in many English contexts, achieving the /dʒ/ onset smoothly, and rendering the final /ə/ or /ə/ as a quick, unstressed vowel. Some speakers also shorten the middle /n/ or mispronounce as /ˈdʒɛnɔː/. Practice with minimal pairs and stress drills helps.
Is there a difference between pronouncing the city name in English vs. Italian contexts, where Genova is used? In Italian, Genova is pronounced with more evenly stressed syllables and a palatal 'g' sound; English usage tends toward /dʒəˈnoʊə/ with an English diphthong in the second syllable. This distinction often appears in travel writing and bilingual articles.
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- US: rhotic tendencies; but Genoa is not typically pronounced with /r/; pay attention to /dʒəˈnoʊə/. - UK: non-rhotic; final 'a' often schwa; /dʒɪˈnəʊə/. - AU: similar to UK; vowels sound a bit broader; follow /dʒɪˈnəʊə/; IPA references. - Tip: use mouth positions: lip rounding for /oʊ/; relax jaw on final /ə/.
Genoa comes from the Latin name for the Ligurian city, Genoa, and the Italian Genova. The English exonym Genoa derives from the medieval Latin Genua or Genova via Old French Genove, reflecting the city’s prominence during the Middle Ages as a maritime republic. The root is tied to the ancient Ligurian settlement and later Roman influence in the region; over centuries, Genoa became the Italian Genova, with the English version retaining the hard g initial followed by e- and -oa ending. In English usage, the name stabilized as Genoa in the 16th–18th centuries, coinciding with increased travel and trade discourse. The word carries geographical and historical weight, often appearing in literary, diplomatic, and travel contexts, and it persists with a stress pattern typical of English maritime proper nouns. First known uses appear in Latin and medieval chronicles describing the Ligurian coast and its cities, with English texts adopting Genoa as a direct allusion to the port and its republic heritage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Genoa" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Genoa" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Genoa"
-noa sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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