How to pronounce forefather
Say it like FOR-fah-ther. Forefather has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce forefather. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOR
- fah
- ther
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Forefather pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- fahGive this part a little weight. 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 forefather
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW-fah-thuh.
What does forefather mean?
- An ancestor.
- A cultural ancestor; one who originated an idea or tradition.
Where does forefather come from?
From Middle English forefader, forfader, vorvader, from Old English forefæder (“forefather”), but possibly also merged with Old Norse forfaðir.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying forefather
How do you pronounce forefather?
Say FOR-fah-ther. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrˌfɑðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in forefather?
Forefather has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · fah · ther.
Is forefather 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 /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/ (FAW-fah-thuh).