7 syllables: Le, on, ar, do Di, Cap, ri, o. Stress on ri.
lay-uh-nahr-doh-dik-AP-ree-oh
/ˌleɪ.əˈnɑɹ.doʊ dɪˈkæp.ɹi.oʊ/
Leonardo DiCaprio is pronounced lay-uh-nahr-doh-dik-AP-ree-oh (/ˌleɪ.əˈnɑɹ.doʊ dɪˈkæp.ɹi.oʊ/). It has seven syllables (Le-on-ar-do Di-Cap-ri-o), with the stress on "ri". Leonardo DiCaprio is an Italian- and English-language proper noun referring to the acclaimed American actor born in 1974. The name combines a given name of Italian origin with a surname from a well-known Italian family, used in reference to the actor. In usage, it denotes a person and is treated as a two-name proper noun in formal and informal contexts.
nounLeonardo DiCaprio is an Italian- and English-language proper noun referring to the acclaimed American actor born in 1974. The name combines a given name of Italian origin with a surname from a well-known Italian family, used in reference to the actor. In usage, it denotes a person and is treated as a two-name proper noun in formal and informal contexts.
"Leonardo DiCaprio gave a compelling performance in the film."
"I’d like to interview Leonardo DiCaprio about his environmental work."
"Leonardo DiCaprio has won multiple awards for acting and advocacy."
Standard pronunciation: lɪˈɒnɑːrdo dɪˈkæprio. Stress on the second syllable of Leonardo (Le-o-NAR-do) and on the second syllable of DiCaprio (di-CAP-rio). In US/UK accents, the final vowels are clearly articulated: -o ending with a rounded 'o' sound. Mouth positions: start with a light alveolar L, then a low back vowel /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ not a true 'ee' sound, then a rolled or flapped /ɾ/ in some rapid speech variants for the 'r' depending on dialect. For audio reference, listen to film interviews or YouTube pronunciations labeled ‘Leonardo DiCaprio pronunciation’.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable of Leonardo instead of the second; (2) turning DiCaprio into a long ‘ee’ sound in -rio, or mispronouncing caprio as ‘cay-prio’ rather than ‘kap-ree-oh’; (3) flattening the r or softening it in US/UK variants. Corrections: place primary stress on the -nar- syllable (Le-o-NAR-do), render DiCaprio as di-KAP-ree-oh with a clear -ri- as /ri/ and avoid overdrawing the -o at the end. Practice with minimal pairs: Leonardo vs Leornado, Caprio vs Caprio.” ,
US: rhotic /ɹ/ is pronounced; DiCaprio often as /dɪˈkæprioʊ/ with final /oʊ/. UK: less rhotic emphasis, final vowel closer to /əʊ/ or /əʊ/ with non-rhotic /ɹ/ absence; AU: similar to US, often slight vowel shifts in diphthongs. Pay attention to Leonardo’s vowels: /ˈlɛoˌnardə/ or /lɪˈɒnardo/ depending on speaker. Use IPA to compare: US /lɪˈɒnɑːrdo dɪˈkæprio/; UK /lɪˈɒnɑːdəʊ dɪˈkæprɪəʊ/; AU /liˈɒnədɔ dɪˈkæpriəʊ/.
Two main challenges: Leonardo’s second syllable polarized stress and the Italian-formed surname with Di- prefix and Caprio’s two-consonant cluster /kæ-pri-/; many speakers misplace stress or substitute /dɪ/ for /da/ or mispronounce /ˈkæprioʊ/ as /ka-pri-oʊ/. Focus on the two-name rhythm and ensure the /k/ and /p/ boundaries are clear in DiCaprio; keep the final -io as /io/ rather than /iːoʊ/.
A unique feature is the diphthongization in DiCaprio’s end: /io/ often realized as a light, quick /io/ or /i o/ depending on dialect; avoid turning it into a long /oʊ/. In careful speech, ensure the surname ends with a crisp /rio/ syllable: /-riː.o/ or /-rioʊ/ with clear /r/ before the final /i/; the stress pattern remains- Le-o-NAR-do (4-syllable name) vs di-CAP-rio (2-syllable surname).
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Leonardo is an Italian given name derived from the Germanic elements leon (lion) and hard (brave, hardy), historically used across medieval Italian naming. It became popular in Italian-speaking regions during the Renaissance, associated with notable figures such as Leonardo da Vinci. DiCaprio is an Italian surname formed with di- (of) plus Caprio, likely derived from a nickname or occupational name linked to goats or goats’ horns in some dialects; the final -o is typical of Italian masculine surnames. The combined form, Leonardo DiCaprio, is a modern Anglophone usage to identify a contemporary public figure, with the surname indicating lineage or origin in Italian. First known public references to the actor used his full name in media in the early 1990s as he rose from child actor to leading man, with the pronunciation following standard Italian-influenced English adaptation. In contemporary usage, the name functions as a two-part proper noun, with stress typically placed on the second name’s syllable in English speech, though individual speakers may adjust stress slightly for emphasis.
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Words that rhyme with "Leonardo DiCaprio"
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