Pronunciation Guide • English (from Italian)
How to Pronounce espresso
Difficulty: easy
IPA Transcription
/ɛˈsprɛsoʊ/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
es-PRESS-oh. Not "ex-PRESS-oh". There is no X in espresso. The confusion arises because the word looks like "express" + "o". The Italian word means "pressed out" (as in the coffee is pressed through the machine).
💡 Pro Tip for espresso
Remember: there is no X. es-PRESS-oh. If you say "expresso" you will be corrected in any Italian café.
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Hear 'espresso' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term espresso originates from Italian "espresso". Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.