How to pronounce emoticon
Say it like ih-MOH-tuh-kon. Emoticon has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce emoticon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ih
- MOH
- tuh
- kon
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Emoticon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- konGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of emoticon
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ih-MOH-tih-kon.
What does emoticon mean?
- A graphic made up of text characters to represent such emotion; a smiley.
- An image or graphic icon used to represent such emotions; an emoji.
Where does emoticon come from?
Blend of emotion + icon.
Questions about saying emoticon
How do you pronounce emoticon?
Say ih-MOH-tuh-kon. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈmoʊtəˌkɑn/. In British English it is /ɪˈməʊtɪˌkɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in emoticon?
Emoticon has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH). Broken into parts: ih · MOH · tuh · kon.
Is emoticon pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ɪˈməʊtɪˌkɒn/ (ih-MOH-tih-kon).