How to pronounce collateral
Say it like kuh-LAT-uh-rul. Collateral has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce collateral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- LAT
- uh
- rul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Collateral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of collateral
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kuh-LAT-uh-rul.
What does collateral mean?
- a security pledged for the repayment of a loan
- descended from a common ancestor but through different lines“cousins are collateral relatives”“an indirect descendant of the Stuarts”
- serving to support or corroborate“collateral evidence”
- additional but secondary; auxiliary
Where does collateral come from?
Recorded since c.1378, from Old French, from Medieval Latin collaterālis, from Latin col- (“together with”) (a form of con-) + the stem of latus (“side”).
Words that rhyme with collateral
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of collateral.
Questions about saying collateral
How do you pronounce collateral?
Say kuh-LAT-uh-rul. The American pronunciation is /kəˈlætərəl/. In British English it is /kəˈlætərəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in collateral?
Collateral has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAT). Broken into parts: kuh · LAT · uh · rul.
Is collateral pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /kəˈlætərəl/ (kuh-LAT-uh-rul).