How to pronounce daughter
Say it like DAW-ter. Daughter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce daughter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DAW
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Daughter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of daughter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: DAW-tuh.
What does daughter mean?
- a female human offspring“her daughter cared for her in her old age”
Where does daughter come from?
From Middle English doghter, doughter, from Old English dohtor (“daughter”), from Proto-West Germanic *dohter, from Proto-Germanic *duhtēr, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰugh₂tḗr.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with daughter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of daughter.
Questions about saying daughter
How do you pronounce daughter?
Say DAW-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɔtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈdɔːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in daughter?
Daughter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DAW). Broken into parts: DAW · ter.
Is daughter 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 /ˈdɔːtə/ (DAW-tuh).