How to pronounce biathlon
Say it like by-ATH-lon. Biathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ATH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce biathlon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- by
- ATH
- lon
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Biathlon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- byKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ATHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- lonGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of biathlon
American and British speakers say biathlon in essentially the same way: /baɪˈæθˌlɑn/ in the US and /baɪˈæθlən/ in the UK.
British respelling: by-ATH-lun.
What does biathlon mean?
- Racing combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
- A particular instance of such a race.
Where does biathlon come from?
From bi- (prefix meaning ‘two; both’) + -athlon (suffix meaning ‘contest’), modeled after pentathlon.
Questions about saying biathlon
How do you pronounce biathlon?
Say by-ATH-lon. The American pronunciation is /baɪˈæθˌlɑn/. In British English it is /baɪˈæθlən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in biathlon?
Biathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ATH). Broken into parts: by · ATH · lon.
Do Americans and Brits say biathlon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /baɪˈæθˌlɑn/ and the British form is /baɪˈæθlən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.