3 syllables: Sav, our, y. Stress on Sav.
SAY-vur-ee
/ˈseɪ.vɚ.i/
Savoury is pronounced SAY-vur-ee (/ˈseɪ.vɚ.i/). It has three syllables (Sav-our-y), with the stress on "Sav". Savoury is an adjective describing flavors or dishes that are not sweet, often rich, salty, or spicy. It can also refer to savory-tavored foods and, in British usage, to appetizing or agreeable. The term emphasizes umami-like, robust taste and can describe herbs, seasonings, or foods suitable as snacks or main courses rather than desserts.
adjectiveSavoury is an adjective describing flavors or dishes that are not sweet, often rich, salty, or spicy. It can also refer to savory-tavored foods and, in British usage, to appetizing or agreeable. The term emphasizes umami-like, robust taste and can describe herbs, seasonings, or foods suitable as snacks or main courses rather than desserts.
How to Pronounce Savoury
"The soup had a rich, savoury depth that lingered on the palate."
"She favored a savoury snack over something sweet after dinner."
"The chef prepared a savoury pie filled with mushrooms and herbs."
Pronounce as two syllables: US/UK/AU IPA: /ˈsævəri/ (US) or /ˈsɒvəri/ (UK/AU). Primary stress on the first syllable. Mouth position: start with a short front-open vowel for the first syllable (hæ- as in 'saw'), then an unstressed second syllable with a schwa or reduced vowel. Think 'SA-vo-ry' with emphasis on SA. For more nuance, you can reference audio dictionaries like Cambridge or Forvo for native variant sounds.
Common errors: (1) Not stressing the first syllable; people say /sə-ˈve-ry/; fix by stressing first syllable. (2) Using a long 'a' like in 'savory' if targeting UK English; correct to /ˈsɒvəri/ or /ˈsævəri/ depending on dialect. (3) Mispronouncing the second syllable as 'ary' with a visible 'r' in non-rhotic accents; instead, use a quick schwa or rhotacized ending depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs to distinguish vowel quality and reduce vowel length in the second syllable.
In US English, /ˈsævəri/: first vowel lax as in 'cat', rhotic r, schwa in second syllable. In UK/Most of AU, /ˈsɒvəri/: short o as in 'hot', non-rhotic r; the r is less pronounced or non-rhotic in careful speech. In some Australian speech, you may hear /ˈsævərɪ/ with a lighter second syllable; some speakers reduce to /ˈsɒvri/ in casual speech. Overall, the primary difference is the first vowel height and quality (æ vs ɒ) and the treatment of r sounds.
The challenges include correctly rendering the first vowel in two dominant varieties: /æ/ (as in 'cat') in American-influenced speech or /ɒ/ (as in 'cot' but shorter) in British/Australian speech, and producing a light, unstressed second syllable with a schwa or reduced vowel. The issue of non-rhoticity in British/Australian accents can cause the 'r' to be subtle or absent, making the word sound different from fully rhotic vowels. Mastery requires tuning short vowels and reducing the second vowel without distorting it.
A common unique aspect is the subtle reduction in the second syllable; you’ll want to avoid a full vowel there. Practice with listening to native speakers in Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries; check audio examples on Forvo. Pay attention to mouth posture: keep the jaw slightly open for the first vowel, and relax the tongue for the second syllable, letting it drift toward schwa without becoming a muffled vowel. This helps you land a natural, native-sounding Savoury.
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Savoury originates from the French word salé, meaning salted or salty, connected to the English savour, savor, and ultimately the Latin sapor, saporis meaning flavor or taste. The form in English emerged in Middle English as savour and later savoury to describe something with a pleasing taste. The sense broadened from strictly salty flavors to a general pleasing taste or without sweetness. In British English, savoury also gained a figurative sense meaning agreeable or respectable, tied to social propriety and good taste. First attestations date to the 14th century in English texts, with related forms in Old French influencing culinary vocabulary globally. Over centuries, the term evolved to designate a broad category of non-sweet foods and culinary flavor profiles, while in American usage, savoury is commonly spelled savory. The word has become a stable coordinate term in menus, cookbooks, and everyday discourse about cuisine and appetite.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Savoury" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Savoury" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Savoury"
-ary sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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