How to pronounce blackmail
Say it like BLAK-mayl. Blackmail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce blackmail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BLAK
- mayl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Blackmail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BLAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- maylGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of blackmail
American and British speakers say blackmail in essentially the same way: /ˈblækˌmeɪl/ in the US and /ˈblækˌmeɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BLAK-mayl.
What does blackmail mean?
- The extortion of money or favors by threats of public accusation, critique, or exposure.
- Compromising material that can be used to extort someone.
- A type of roleplay where the submissive shares information that may be exploited by the dominant.
- To extort money or favors from (a person) by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, such as injury to reputation, distress of mind, false accusation, etc.“He blackmailed a businesswoman by threatening to expose an alleged fraud.”
- To speak ill of someone; to defame someone.
Where does blackmail come from?
Expanded c. 1826 to any type of extortion money.
Questions about saying blackmail
How do you pronounce blackmail?
Say BLAK-mayl. The American pronunciation is /ˈblækˌmeɪl/. In British English it is /ˈblækˌmeɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in blackmail?
Blackmail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK). Broken into parts: BLAK · mayl.
Do Americans and Brits say blackmail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈblækˌmeɪl/ and the British form is /ˈblækˌmeɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.