The word legato is divided into 3 syllables: le·ga·to. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of legato:
Note: Audio requires JavaScript enabled
Borrowed from Italian legato, past participle of legare (“to tie up, tie together, to bind”), learned borrowing from Latin ligō (“tie, bind”). Doublet of ligate. See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. From Latin legatus. From Italian legato. Borrowed from Italian legato. From legare. From Latin lēgātus. Borrowed from Italian legato. Unadapted borrowing from Italian legato.
Understanding how to break down legato into syllables helps with:
Compare legato with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| legato | 3 | le·ga·to |
| Lakewood | 3 | la-ke-wood |
| Lockwood | 1 | lockwood |
| lightheaded | 2 | lighthead-ed |
| legatee | 3 | le-ga-tee |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to legato:
legato has 3 syllables: le·ga·to. The word is divided into 3 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: le. This means you emphasize the "le" part when pronouncing legato.
legato is pronounced as /ləˈɡɑ.təʊ/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: le·ga·to.
Breaking legato into syllables helps with spelling: le·ga·to. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.