How to pronounce fatal
Say it like FAY-tul. Fatal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fatal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAY
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fatal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fatal
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: FAY-tul.
What does fatal mean?
- bringing death
- having momentous consequences; of decisive importance“that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea”“the fatal day of the election finally arrived”
- (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin“the stock market crashed on Black Friday”“a calamitous defeat”
Where does fatal come from?
From Middle French fatal, from Latin fātālis (“fatal”).
Words that rhyme with fatal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fatal.
Questions about saying fatal
How do you pronounce fatal?
Say FAY-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfeɪtəl/. In British English it is /ˈfeɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fatal?
Fatal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAY). Broken into parts: FAY · tul.
Is fatal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈfeɪtəl/ (FAY-tul).