3 syllables: Me, men, to. Stress on men.
mim-EN-toh
/mɪˈmɛntoʊ/
Memento is pronounced mim-EN-toh (/mɪˈmɛntoʊ/). It has three syllables (Me-men-to), with the stress on "men". Memento is a noun meaning a physical reminder or keepsake of a person, place, or event. It also refers to something that reminds one of a past memory or occasion. Used in both sentimental and ceremonial contexts, it often signals remembrance or commemorative significance.
nounMemento is a noun meaning a physical reminder or keepsake of a person, place, or event. It also refers to something that reminds one of a past memory or occasion. Used in both sentimental and ceremonial contexts, it often signals remembrance or commemorative significance.
- You’ll often hear learners put stress on the first syllable (ME-men-to) instead of MEN. Make it a rule to stress the second syllable: /məˈmɛn.toʊ/ for US, /məˈmen.təʊ/ for UK/AU. - Final vowel confusion: avoid turning /toʊ/ into /to/ or /tə/. Practice with a long rounded diphthong like ‘oh’ to match /oʊ/. - Consonant timing: don’t rush the /n/ before the /t/; let the nasal sound finish before the /t/ release; otherwise it sounds like /ˈmɛmˌto/.
"- He kept a small memento from his grandfather on his desk."
"- The museum displayed a memento from the artist's early years."
"- She wore the locket as a memento of her late sister."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on /məˈmɛnˌtoʊ/ or /məˈmen.təʊ/ in UK. Start with a muted schwa in the first syllable, stress on the second syllable 'MEN', and end with a long 'to' or 'toe' depending on accent. Mouth: lip relaxed, tongue mid-high for /ˈmɛn/; then tip of tongue near alveolar ridge for /n/; final /toʊ/ with the jaw closed enough for a rounded oʊ. Listen for the two-beat rhythm: /mə- MEN - toʊ/. Audio reference: tap or click to a standard pronunciation model to compare.
Common errors: 1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable (ME-men-to) instead of MEN; 2) Reducing the second syllable to a flat /tə/ instead of /tɔːʊ/ in some accents; 3) Muddling the final /toʊ/ as /to/ or /toʌ/ due to vowel reduction. Correction: keep the second syllable clearly stressed /ˈmɛn/ and finish with a full /toʊ/ or /təʊ/, not a reduced vowel. Practice minimal pairs to feel the long final vowel.
US: /məˈmɛnˌtoʊ/ with clear /ˈmɛn/ and final /oʊ/. UK: often /məˈmen.təʊ/ with softer /ə/ in second syllable and final /əʊ/. AU: tends toward /məˈmen.təʊ/ similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities; non-rhotic tendencies may affect the syllable linking. The primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel qualities shift: US has /ɛ/ vs UK /e/. Ensure final diphthong is distinct in all variants.
Key challenges: the two-syllable rhythm with a mid-front vowel in the second syllable (/ˈmɛn/), plus a final long /oʊ/ diphthong that may be reduced in rapid speech; also non-native speakers may misplace stress or over- or under-articulate the /n/ and /t/ transitions. Focus on distinctly pronouncing /ˈmɛn/ and shaping /toʊ/ with a rounded jaw and lip rounding to glide into the final vowel. Practicing slower can help cement accurate articulation.
A distinctive feature is the optional vowel quality in the final syllable depending on region: some speakers emphasize a pure /təʊ/ or a more open /toʊ/ with different tongue heights. The second syllable vowel /e/ can shift toward /eɪ/ in rapid speech for some speakers. Listening for the exact vowel shape in your target accent helps you lock in the intended sound, especially the transition from /ˈmɛn/ to /toʊ/.
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- US: emphasize the rhotic-like arch in /ˈmɛn/ with a soft /ə/ in the first syllable; keep /toʊ/ as a rounded, tight diphthong. - UK: reduce rhoticity, venturing /məˈmen.təʊ/ with schwa in second syllable and a clear /əʊ/ at the end. - AU: similar to UK but vowel qualities are broader; ensure non-rhoticity by not linking the final /təʊ/ with preceding r-coloring. Always aim for a two-beat rhythm with clear secondary stress in fast speech. IPA references: US /məˈmɛnˌtoʊ/, UK /məˈmen.təʊ/, AU /məˈmen.təʊ/.
The word memento comes from Latin mēmentō, from meminī ‘to remember.’ In Latin, mementō was the imperative form meaning ‘remember (this).’ English borrowed memento via Old French memento in the 16th century, maintaining the sense of a reminder. The core idea has always linked memory with an object that preserves or evokes a memory. Over time, memento broadened from a formal, archaic term to a common noun for small keepsakes. The word aligns with other memory-oriented terms like memoir and memorial, reinforcing its commemorative function. The pronunciation shifted modestly in English from a closer Latin vowel pattern to the stressed second syllable English form. Today, memento commonly appears in both literary and everyday contexts, often in phrases like “memento mori” (remember you must die) in art and philosophy, though in modern usage it’s generally a sentimental, tangible reminder rather than a philosophical maxim.
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Words that rhyme with "Memento"
-nto sounds
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