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Why "oregano" sounds different in British English
British English says /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ/. The main stress falls on the third syllable, GAH, with the long /ɑː/ of "father". The first syllable has the short rounded /ɒ/ of "lot" and a light secondary stress, and the word ends in the RP "oh" vowel /əʊ/.
American English stresses the second syllable instead: /əˈreɡənoʊ/, with the short "e" of "leg" and weak vowels either side. The British pattern is closer to the Spanish and Italian stress on that syllable. Because the stress lands in such a different place, people sometimes fail to recognise the word in the other accent at first. Put the weight on GAH and let the opening "orr-ih" run quickly into it.
How to say "oregano" like a Brit, step by step
- Start with a short, rounded orr, as in "orange".
- Add a quick, light ih.
- Stress GAH, with a long, open "ah".
- End with a British noh: orr-ih-GAH-noh.
Practise "oregano" in a sentence
- Sprinkle a little dried oregano over the pizza.
- The sauce needs more garlic and a pinch of oregano.
- I've got fresh oregano growing in the garden.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce oregano in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, oregano is pronounced /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ/, roughly "orr-ih-GAH-noh". The stress is on the third syllable: "orr-ih-GAH-noh".
Is the American pronunciation of oregano wrong?
No. /əˈreɡənoʊ/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ/.