2 syllables: Tri, o. Stress on Tri.
TREE-oh
/ˈtɹiˌoʊ/
Trio is pronounced TREE-oh (/ˈtɹiˌoʊ/). It has two syllables (Tri-o), with the stress on "Tri". Trio (noun) refers to a group of three people or things, typically musicians performing together. It can describe a set of three related items or participants in a small ensemble. The term connotes unity and a triad, often used in music, drama, or collaboration contexts.
nounTrio (noun) refers to a group of three people or things, typically musicians performing together. It can describe a set of three related items or participants in a small ensemble. The term connotes unity and a triad, often used in music, drama, or collaboration contexts.
"The trio performed a delicate piece that showcased their harmony."
"She joined a singing trio to explore new harmonies."
"The saved settings were divided among a trio of folders."
Trio is pronounced as two syllables: TRI-o, with stress on the first syllable. IPA: US ˈtriˌoʊ, UK ˈtriː.əʊ, AU ˈtɹiː.əʊ. The first vowel is a clear long i sound /iː/ in the second dialect, and the second syllable reduces to /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on the variety. Be sure to avoid flattening the second syllable; keep it light and unstressed. In careful speech, you’ll hear ɪ or i in the first vowel, then the rounded diphthong in the second syllable.
Common errors include placing equal stress on both syllables (tri-OO) or using a quick, clipped second syllable (/triː/ without the following /oʊ/). Another frequent mistake is blending the second syllable too strongly, turning it into /ˈtriː.ɔː/ instead of /ˈtri.oʊ/. Correct by articulating /ˈtri/ clearly with the tongue high for /i/ and then releasing a distinct, rounded /oʊ/ with a brief glide. Practice by isolating each syllable and then blending slowly.
In US English, stress falls on the first syllable with a pronounced /i/ then a light /oʊ/ in a rhotic environment (ˈtriˌoʊ). UK English tends to have a longer, less rounded /oʊ/ and a slightly tighter vowel in the first syllable (ˈtriː.əʊ). Australian English often mirrors UK but with a flatter intonation and a more central onset for /i/ preceding the /oʊ/. Listen for rhoticity: US is rhotic, UK and AU often non-rhotic in careful speech, affecting post-consonantal r coloring if present in adjacent words.
The word challenges non-native speakers due to the two-syllable rhythm and the final high-to-low diphthong /oʊ/. The second syllable is often reduced or swallowed when spoken quickly, leading to /ˈtri.o/ or /ˈtri.ə/. Musical context can intensify the need for precise vowel timing to avoid a nascent hiatus between syllables. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow tempo helps stabilize the /i/ to /oʊ/ transition and reinforces the two-beat rhythm.
In careful enunciation, you keep /tri/ as a compact onset with front vowel /i/ followed by a clearly rounded /oʊ/ in the second syllable. Distinguish between /ti/ and /tɹi/ onset by ensuring the tongue blade rises toward the hard palate for /i/ and not a dull alveolar /t/ release. The /r/ sound can influence preceding vowel length in some speakers; ensure you don’t overly de-emphasize the first syllable’s consonant cluster by allowing a clean release into the /oʊ/.
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Trio comes from the Italian word trio, which itself derives from Latin tres, meaning three. The concept entered English in the late 16th to early 17th century, originally in musical contexts to denote a group of three performers or voices. Over time, the word broadened to describe any set of three related items, people, or elements. The term often appears alongside related forms such as duo and quartet, reflecting a system of grouping by number. In music, a trio can describe a composition for three performers or a three-part texture. The use of trio as a count noun emphasizes the social or functional collection as a unit rather than as distinct individuals. The pronunciation has remained stable, with stress typically on the first syllable in both British and American usage. First known printed uses appear in music treatises and catalogues from the 17th century, signaling its established place in musical and social vocabulary.
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Words that rhyme with "Trio"
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