Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ossia

/ˈɑsiə/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.28 in modern English

Syllables: os-sia
IPA: /ˈɑsiə/

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

In a musical score, an alternative version of a passage, usually just a few measures long. The alternative may be an easier version of a particularly difficult passage, or a more difficult version of a passage.

Etymology

From Italian ossia (“or rather”).

Origin

Source language: Italian

Word Breakdown

Root: ossia

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɑsiə/
British English: /ˈɒsɪə/

Inflected Forms

ossias (plural)

Questions

How do you pronounce ossia?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɑsiə/.
What does ossia mean?: In a musical score, an alternative version of a passage, usually just a few measures long. The alternative may be an easier version of a particularly difficult passage, or a more difficult version of a passage.
Where does ossia come from?: It is traced to Italian.

How to pronounce ossia

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ossia”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɑsiə/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ossia”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ossia” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.