How to pronounce colander
Say it like KAH-lun-der. Colander has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce colander. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAH
- lun
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Colander pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- lunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of colander
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOL-un-duh.
What does colander mean?
- A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food that has been cooking in water, such as pasta.
Where does colander come from?
From Middle English colyndore, coloundour, colonur, variants of Middle English culdor, culdore, culatre, ultimately from Latin cōlātōrium, from Latin cōlum.
Questions about saying colander
How do you pronounce colander?
Say KAH-lun-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑləndɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkɒləndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in colander?
Colander has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH). Broken into parts: KAH · lun · der.
Is colander 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 /ˈkɒləndə/ (KOL-un-duh).