How to pronounce elephant
Say it like EL-uh-funt. Elephant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce elephant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EL
- uh
- funt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Elephant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- funtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of elephant
American and British speakers say elephant in essentially the same way: /ˈɛləfənt/ in the US and /ˈɛlɪfənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: EL-ih-funt.
What does elephant mean?
- five-toed pachyderm
- the symbol of the Republican Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
Questions about saying elephant
How do you pronounce elephant?
Say EL-uh-funt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛləfənt/. In British English it is /ˈɛlɪfənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in elephant?
Elephant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EL). Broken into parts: EL · uh · funt.
Do Americans and Brits say elephant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛləfənt/ and the British form is /ˈɛlɪfənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.