How to pronounce hamlet
Say it like HAM-lut. Hamlet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hamlet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAM
- lut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hamlet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- lutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hamlet
American and British speakers say hamlet in essentially the same way: /ˈhæmlət/ in the US and /ˈhæmlɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAM-lit.
What does hamlet mean?
- a community of people smaller than a village
- the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who hoped to avenge the murder of his father
- a settlement smaller than a town
Where does hamlet come from?
From Middle English hamlet, hamelet, a borrowing from Old French hamelet, diminutive of Old French hamel, in turn diminutive of Old French ham, of Germanic origin, from Frankish *haim, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *haimaz (whence English home).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hamlet
How do you pronounce hamlet?
Say HAM-lut. The American pronunciation is /ˈhæmlət/. In British English it is /ˈhæmlɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hamlet?
Hamlet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAM). Broken into parts: HAM · lut.
Do Americans and Brits say hamlet the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhæmlət/ and the British form is /ˈhæmlɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.