3 syllables: Te, qui, la. Stress on qui.
tuh-KEE-luh
/təˈkilə/
Tequila is pronounced tuh-KEE-luh (/təˈkilə/). It has three syllables (Te-qui-la), with the stress on "qui". Tequila is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily produced in the region surrounding Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. As a noun, it refers to the spirit itself and also to products labeled Tequila. The word entered English from Spanish, retaining a strong native pronunciation that reflects its Mexican origin.
nounTequila is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily produced in the region surrounding Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. As a noun, it refers to the spirit itself and also to products labeled Tequila. The word entered English from Spanish, retaining a strong native pronunciation that reflects its Mexican origin.
How to Pronounce Tequila
"I poured a shot of tequila and watched the lime juice glisten on the rim."
"We sipped tequila–based cocktails at the bar after the concert."
"The tequila brand sponsored the festival, drawing attention with its distinctive bottle."
Pronounce it as tə-KEE-lə (US/UK: /təˈkiːlə/). The stress lands on the second syllable. Start with a neutral schwa in the first syllable, then a long “ee” sound, and finish with a soft, unstressed ‘la’.
Mistakes include saying te-KEE-la with wrong stress on the first syllable, or pronouncing the middle vowel as short ‘i’ rather than a prolonged ‘ee’. Another error is truncating the final -la to a hard ‘la’ without a light, unstressed ending. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable, lengthening the /iː/ and keeping the final /lə/ softly.
In US/UK, /təˈkiːlə/ with a clear stressed middle syllable; rhotic speech won't affect this word much, but vowel quality in the first and last syllables can differ slightly. Australian speakers often reduce the final syllable slightly more, giving a softer /lə/. The middle /iː/ remains a long vowel in all three, though length and quality may vary with accent and speed.
Key challenges include the two-syllable rhythm with a strong stress on the second syllable, the long /iː/ vowel that can be misarticulated as a short /ɪ/ or /i/, and the lightly pronounced final /lə/ which can be swallowed in fast speech. Slow, precise articulation helps unlock the correct flow and prevents common slip-ups.
Is the final -la syllable pronounced as /lə/ or /lɑ/? It’s generally /lə/ in American and British English, with a soft, almost neutral schwa-like vowel. In careful pronunciation, avoid a heavy /ɑ/; keep the ending light and quick, almost like a whisper of /lə/.
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Tequila derives from the Nahuatl word huiti, which signified a type of plant or strikingly, a prickly plant, but the name became associated with the agave-based beverage produced in the Mexican town of Tequila. The modern term appears in early colonial sources in the 17th century as ‘tequila’ or ‘tequillà’, reflecting Spanish orthography and pronunciation. The word’s etymology is tied to the region and the beverage’s production method: agave sap fermented and distilled into a potent liquor. Over time, Tequila became a protected designation of origin (PDO) in Mexico, restricting production to certain municipalities in Jalisco and the broader limited regions, shaping both linguistic and commercial identity. In English usage, tequila as a name for the drink broadened in the 19th and 20th centuries with global distribution, maintaining the strong two-syllable rhythm and final schwa in casual speech, while high-end or ceremonial usage may emphasize the final syllable more distinctly. First known English attestations date from the mid-19th century, with earlier documents in Spanish records and Mexican catalogs. Today, the word functions both as a proper noun and as a generic name for the spirit class, retaining its original Spanish stress pattern to varying degrees depending on speaker, but often adapted in English with stress on the second syllable: te-QUI-la.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tequila" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Tequila" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Tequila"
-lla sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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