How to pronounce dormant
Say it like DOR-munt. Dormant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dormant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOR
- munt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dormant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- muntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dormant
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DAW-munt.
What does dormant mean?
- Inactive, sleeping, asleep, suspended.“Grass goes dormant during the winter, waiting for spring before it grows again.”
- In a sleeping posture; distinguished from couchant.“a lion dormant”
- Leaning.
- A crossbeam or joist.
Where does dormant come from?
From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dormiēns, present participle of dormiō (“to sleep”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- hibernating
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with dormant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dormant.
Questions about saying dormant
How do you pronounce dormant?
Say DOR-munt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɔrmənt/. In British English it is /ˈdɔːmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dormant?
Dormant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOR). Broken into parts: DOR · munt.
Is dormant 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 /ˈdɔːmənt/ (DAW-munt).