How to pronounce decathlon
Say it like dee-KATH-lawn. Decathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KATH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decathlon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dee
- KATH
- lawn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decathlon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- KATHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- lawnKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of decathlon
American and British speakers say decathlon in essentially the same way: /diˈkæθlɔn/ in the US and /diːˈkæθlɒn/ in the UK.
British respelling: dee-KATH-lon.
What does decathlon mean?
- An athletic contest consisting of ten events which includes sprinting, hurdling, jumping, and throwing over a span of two days.
- A contest in science and math proving skill.
Where does decathlon come from?
From dec- + -athlon, coined for the 1912 Summer Olympics in analogy to the word pentathlon.
Questions about saying decathlon
How do you pronounce decathlon?
Say dee-KATH-lawn. The American pronunciation is /diˈkæθlɔn/. In British English it is /diːˈkæθlɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decathlon?
Decathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KATH). Broken into parts: dee · KATH · lawn.
Do Americans and Brits say decathlon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /diˈkæθlɔn/ and the British form is /diːˈkæθlɒn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.