How to pronounce athlete
Say it like ATH-leet. Athlete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ATH).
- ATH
- leet
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Two syllables only: 'ATH-leet'. Avoid adding an extra 'uh' in the middle.
Athlete pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ATHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- leetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of athlete
American and British speakers say athlete in essentially the same way: /ˈæθˌlit/ in the US and /ˈæθˌliːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ATH-leet.
What does athlete mean?
- A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.
- A person who actively participates in physical sports, especially with great skill; a sportsperson.“She's the first athlete in her sport to obtain a corporate sponsor.”
- An exceptionally physically fit person.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- sportsperson
- competitor
- jock
- pro
- sportsman
- sportswoman
Questions about saying athlete
How do you pronounce athlete?
Say ATH-leet. The American pronunciation is /ˈæθˌlit/. In British English it is /ˈæθˌliːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in athlete?
Athlete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ATH). Broken into parts: ATH · leet.
Do Americans and Brits say athlete the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæθˌlit/ and the British form is /ˈæθˌliːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.