How to pronounce commander
Say it like kuh-MAN-der. Commander has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAN).
- kuh
- MAN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Commander 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.
- MANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of commander
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: kuh-MAHN-duh.
What does commander mean?
- One who exercises control and direction of a military or naval organization.
- A naval officer whose rank is above that of a lieutenant commander and below that of captain.
- One who exercises control and direction over a group of persons.
Where does commander come from?
From Middle English comaundour, commaunder, comaunder, borrowed from Old French comandeor, cumandeur, from comander.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- commanding officer
- commandant
- air force officer
Words that rhyme with commander
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of commander.
Questions about saying commander
How do you pronounce commander?
Say kuh-MAN-der. The American pronunciation is /kəˈmændɚ/. In British English it is /kəˈmɑːndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in commander?
Commander has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAN). Broken into parts: kuh · MAN · der.
Is commander 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 /kəˈmɑːndə/ (kuh-MAHN-duh).