Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce bolognese

bol-uh-NAYZ - stress at the end; also heard as 'bol-uh-NEEZ'

US/ˌbɒləˈneɪz/

neɪz

UK/ˌbɒləˈneɪz/

neɪz

New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.

Common mistake

Not 'buh-LOG-neez'; the 'gn' is a 'ny' sound and the stress is on the last syllable.

What “bolognese” means

A slow-cooked Italian meat sauce, usually with a little tomato, originating in Bologna, as in spaghetti bolognese.

Of or relating to the city of Bologna; a person from Bologna. Also, a small white lapdog of the bichon type.

In a sentence

  • She simmered the bolognese for three hours until the sauce was rich and thick.
  • In Bologna the sauce is traditionally served with tagliatelle, not spaghetti.

Say it out loud a few times, then check yourself.

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Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.