20 food and menu words to pronounce
A listening guide for ordering and talking about food.
Borrowed words can have English variants
Food words travel between languages, and the dictionary may list several English pronunciations. These pages focus on the American English entries where available and the APG examples. They do not claim that an English pronunciation is the only way the word is said in its language of origin.
Listen for the middle consonants
Compare espresso, bruschetta, and chipotle. Pay attention to the order of the consonants as well as the strongest vowel. Start slowly enough to keep those sounds in place, then listen again to hear how the speaker connects them at a natural pace.
Make a short menu
Choose an appetizer, a main ingredient, and a dessert from the list. Watch each video and say a simple order using those words. For a class activity, partners can build different menus and read them to one another, checking any uncertain pronunciation on the linked page.
Your listening list
20 wordsChoose a word to hear it in an APG video.
Test these pronunciations
Try 4 questions from this guide. Each answer includes an APG video, dictionary reference, and explanation.
Try this guide’s quiz →More words in this topic
66 wordsKeep listening with an APG video and a pronunciation tip for each word.
- abalone
Give “lo” the strongest beat.
- absinthe
AB-sinth: the final e is silent.
- anise
Use two syllables and initial stress.
- aperitif
uh-per-uh-TEEF: the main stress falls at the end.
- apricot
Begin with the vowel in “day.”
- arugula
Stress “ru,” using a long “oo.”
- asparagus
The second syllable carries the main beat.
- aubergine
Keep the primary stress at the beginning.
- avocado
Stress “ca,” the third syllable.
- barista
buh-REES-tuh: stress the middle syllable.
- basil
BAZ-uhl: stress BAZ.
- biscotti
bih-SKAH-tee: keep the sk sounds together.
- bologna
buh-LOH-nee: finish with nee.
- bolognese
boh-luh-NAYZ: stress the final syllable.
- bouillon
BOOL-yun: finish with a light un.
- bourbon
BUR-bun: give the first syllable the stress.
- brie
Say “br” followed by a long “ee.”
- brioche
Stress OHSH in bree-OHSH.
- broccoli
Start with a strong “broc.”
- cannelloni
kan-uh-LOH-nee: stress LOH.
- cantaloupe
Give “can” the primary stress.
- cappuccino
Give “cci” the strongest beat, as in “chee.”
- carafe
kuh-RAF: the final e is silent.
- cardamom
Keep the strongest beat on “car.”
- cashew
Start with a strong “cash.”
- casserole
Give “cas” the strongest beat.
- cauliflower
Put the primary stress on the opening syllable.
- cayenne
kay-EN: rhyme the first syllable with “day.”
- chia
CHEE-uh: keep the first vowel long.
- cilantro
Stress “lan” and start with an “s” sound.
- cocoa
Say KOH-koh.
- cognac
KON-yak: leave out the g sound.
- colander
Stress “col” and keep the middle vowel light.
- cuisine
Stress “zine” and keep the opening “kw.”
- delicatessen
Give “tes” the main beat.
- fajita
Stress “hee” and give “j” an “h” sound.
- falafel
Stress “la,” the second syllable.
- guacamole
Stress “mo,” using the long “o” of “go.”
- jalapeño
hah-luh-PAYN-yoh: j sounds like h.
- lasagna
Stress ZAH in the middle.
- maraschino
Use “sk,” followed by a strong “ee.”
- margarine
Stress “mar” and use a soft “g.”
- oregano
Give the second syllable the main beat.
- parmesan
Use a voiced “z” before the ending.
- pecan
Stress KAHN in puh-KAHN.
- pho
Fuh is a one-syllable English pronunciation.
- pistachio
pih-STASH-ee-oh: stress STASH.
- plantain
PLAN-tin: finish with the short i of “pin.”
- pomegranate
POM-uh-gran-uht: the first syllable is strongest.
- raspberry
The written “p” is silent here.
- ricotta
Stress “cot,” the second syllable.
- risotto
Put the main beat on the second syllable.
- rotisserie
roh-TISS-er-ee: the middle TISS takes the main beat.
- sauerkraut
SOW-er-krout: both full vowels rhyme with “cow.”
- sesame
SESS-uh-mee: the ending is pronounced mee.
- sherbet
Use one “r” sound, before “b.”
- sorbet
sor-BAY: rhyme the ending with “bay,” leaving out t.
- souffle
Stress the final syllable, which sounds like “flay.”
- spaghetti
spuh-GET-ee: gh has a hard g sound.
- spinach
Stress “spin” and end with the “ch” of “chair.”
- tabbouleh
tuh-BOO-lay: finish with lay.
- tortilla
tor-TEE-uh: the double l is not an English l.
- tzatziki
tsah-TSEE-kee: keep ts together at the start.
- vanilla
Give “nil” the strongest beat.
- Worcestershire
WUSS-ter-sher: three syllables, with the strongest beat first.
- zucchini
Stress “chi,” with the sound of “key.”
Sources & classroom use
Each listening tip follows the IPA shown beside its word. Other dictionary pronunciations appear on the word page; individual speakers may vary.
Practice phrases were written for these exercises; quoted book passages remain in the separate, sourced book sections. These guides and practice notes are available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and retain the linked dictionary attributions. Videos and other reference material keep their own terms.
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