How to pronounce criminal
Say it like KRIM-uh-nul. Criminal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce criminal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRIM
- uh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Criminal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of criminal
American and British speakers say criminal in essentially the same way: /ˈkrɪmənəl/ in the US and /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRIM-ih-nul.
What does criminal mean?
- bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure“a criminal waste of talent”“a deplorable act of violence”
- guilty of crime or serious offense“criminal in the sight of God and man”
- involving or being or having the nature of a crime“a criminal offense”“criminal abuse”
- someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
Where does criminal come from?
From Middle English cryminal, borrowed from Anglo-Norman criminal, from Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen (“crime”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying criminal
How do you pronounce criminal?
Say KRIM-uh-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɪmənəl/. In British English it is /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in criminal?
Criminal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIM). Broken into parts: KRIM · uh · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say criminal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkrɪmənəl/ and the British form is /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.