How to pronounce butler
Say it like BUHT-ler. Butler has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce butler. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHT
- ler
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Butler pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of butler
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BUHT-luh.
What does butler mean?
- a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
- English novelist who described a fictitious land he called Erewhon (1835-1902)
- English poet (1612-1680)
Where does butler come from?
From Middle English butler, butlere, boteler, botelere, from Old French buttiler, butiller, boteillier (“officer in charge of wine”), from Medieval Latin botellārius, equivalent to bottle + -er.
Words that rhyme with butler
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of butler.
Questions about saying butler
How do you pronounce butler?
Say BUHT-ler. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌtlɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌtlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in butler?
Butler has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT). Broken into parts: BUHT · ler.
Is butler 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 /ˈbʌtlə/ (BUHT-luh).