How to pronounce character
Say it like KER-ik-ter. Character has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce character. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KER
- ik
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Character pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of character
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KAR-ik-tuh.
What does character mean?
- an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)“she is the main character in the novel”
- a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something“each town has a quality all its own”“the radical character of our demands”
- the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions“education has for its object the formation of character”
- engrave or inscribe characters on
Questions about saying character
How do you pronounce character?
Say KER-ik-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɛrɪktɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkærɪktə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in character?
Character has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER). Broken into parts: KER · ik · ter.
Is character 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 /ˈkærɪktə/ (KAR-ik-tuh).