How to pronounce harmattan
Say it like har-muh-TAN. Harmattan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce harmattan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- har
- muh
- TAN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Harmattan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- harGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of harmattan
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: hah-muh-TAN.
What does harmattan mean?
- A dry and dusty wind which blows from the Sahara over the Atlantic coast of West Africa in December, January and February, being a hot wind in some areas and a cold wind in others.
- A season which spans the period in which the harmattan wind blows.
Where does harmattan come from?
From Twi Akan haramata or a related word (whence also Spanish harmatán).
Words that rhyme with harmattan
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of harmattan.
Questions about saying harmattan
How do you pronounce harmattan?
Say har-muh-TAN. The American pronunciation is /ˌhɑrməˈtæn/. In British English it is /ˌhɑːməˈtæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in harmattan?
Harmattan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAN). Broken into parts: har · muh · TAN.
Is harmattan 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 /ˌhɑːməˈtæn/ (hah-muh-TAN).