English pronunciation · Words Starting with C
Crescendo Pronunciation
Crescendo is pronounced kri-SHEN-doh, IPA /krɪˈʃɛndoʊ/.
kri-SHEN-doh
US /krɪˈʃɛndoʊ/ · UK /krəˈʃɛndəʊ/
Syllables: kri · SHEN · doh (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
noun: A gradual increase in loudness in music, or any build towards a peak.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Crescendo in a Sentence
- The strings reach a crescendo in the final minute.
- Complaints rose to a crescendo after the second delay.
- He marked a long crescendo across four bars.
Common Mispronunciations of Crescendo
Not kruh-SEN-doh
The sc gives a sh, because the word came into English straight from Italian.
Not KRE-shen-doh
SHEN is the loud beat, with only a short kri ahead of it.
Tip: Strictly a crescendo is the rise itself rather than the loudest point, though most people now use it for the peak.
More words starting with c · Every word in the pronunciation guide