How to pronounce hospital
Say it like HOS-pit-ul. Hospital has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hospital. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOS
- pit
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hospital pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- pitGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hospital
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: HOS-pit-ul.
What does hospital mean?
- a health facility where patients receive treatment
- a medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care
Where does hospital come from?
From Middle English hospital, hospitall, from Old French hospital (Modern French hôpital), from Late Latin hospitālis, hospitāle (“hospice, shelter, guesthouse”), from noun use of Latin hospitālis (“hospitable”), from hospes (“host, guest”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hospital
How do you pronounce hospital?
Say HOS-pit-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɑˌspɪtəl/. In British English it is /ˈhɒˌspɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hospital?
Hospital has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOS). Broken into parts: HOS · pit · ul.
Is hospital pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈhɒˌspɪtəl/ (HOS-pit-ul).