How to pronounce ancestral
Say it like an-SES-trul. Ancestral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ancestral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- an
- SES
- trul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ancestral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- anKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- SESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- trulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ancestral
American and British speakers say ancestral in essentially the same way: /ænˈsɛstrəl/ in the US and /ænˈsɛstrəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: an-SES-trul.
What does ancestral mean?
- Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by, an ancestor or ancestors.“an ancestral estate”
- An ancestor or forbear.
- A descendant of one's ancestors.
- An elderly relative.
Where does ancestral come from?
From Anglo-Norman ancestrel, from ancestre (“ancestor”), equivalent to ancestor + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ancestral
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ancestral.
Questions about saying ancestral
How do you pronounce ancestral?
Say an-SES-trul. The American pronunciation is /ænˈsɛstrəl/. In British English it is /ænˈsɛstrəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ancestral?
Ancestral has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES). Broken into parts: an · SES · trul.
Do Americans and Brits say ancestral the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ænˈsɛstrəl/ and the British form is /ænˈsɛstrəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.