How to pronounce father
Say it like FAH-ther. Father has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce father. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAH
- ther
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Father pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- therKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of father
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAH-thuh.
What does father mean?
- a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)“his father was born in Atlanta”
- the founder of a family“keep the faith of our forefathers”
- Father is a term of address for priests in some churches (especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Orthodox Catholic Church); Padre is frequently used in the military
- make (offspring) by reproduction“Abraham begot Isaac”“John fathered four daughters”
Where does father come from?
Inherited from Middle English fader, from Old English fæder, from Proto-West Germanic *fader, from Proto-Germanic *fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr, possibly from *peh₂- + *-tḗr.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with father
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of father.
Questions about saying father
How do you pronounce father?
Say FAH-ther. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɑðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfɑːðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in father?
Father has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAH). Broken into parts: FAH · ther.
Is father 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 /ˈfɑːðə/ (FAH-thuh).