How to pronounce ancestor
Say it like AN-ses-ter. Ancestor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ancestor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AN
- ses
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ancestor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sesGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of ancestor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AN-ses-tuh.
What does ancestor mean?
- One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather; a forebear.
- An earlier type; a progenitor.“This fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse.”
- One from whom an estate has descended;, the correlative of heir.
- To be an ancestor of.
Where does ancestor come from?
From Middle English ancestre, auncestre, ancessour; the first forms from Old French ancestre (modern French ancêtre), from the Latin nominative antecessor (“one who goes before”); the last form from Old French ancessor, from Latin antecessō
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying ancestor
How do you pronounce ancestor?
Say AN-ses-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈænˌsɛstɚ/. In British English it is /ˈænˌsɛstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ancestor?
Ancestor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AN). Broken into parts: AN · ses · ter.
Is ancestor pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈænˌsɛstə/ (AN-ses-tuh).