How to pronounce firefighter
Say it like FIRE-fy-ter. Firefighter has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce firefighter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FIRE
- fy
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Firefighter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of firefighter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: FY-fy-tuh.
What does firefighter mean?
- A person who has been trained to put out fires.
Where does firefighter come from?
From fire + fighter. Created as a gender-neutral term for fireman and firewoman.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying firefighter
How do you pronounce firefighter?
Say FIRE-fy-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈfaɪrˌfaɪtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfaɪˌfaɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in firefighter?
Firefighter has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FIRE). Broken into parts: FIRE · fy · ter.
Is firefighter 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 /ˈfaɪˌfaɪtə/ (FY-fy-tuh).