How to pronounce impostor
Say it like im-POS-ter. Impostor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impostor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- POS
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impostor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- POSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of impostor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: im-POS-tuh.
What does impostor mean?
- Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.
- A sprite or animation integrated into a three-dimensional scene to look like part of the 3D world.
- A term referenced in an unusual grammatical person.
Where does impostor come from?
Borrowed from Middle French imposteur, respelled in the Latin manner; ultimately from Latin impositor, agent form of Latin imponere (“to impose”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with impostor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of impostor.
Questions about saying impostor
How do you pronounce impostor?
Say im-POS-ter. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɑstɚ/. In British English it is /ɪmˈpɒstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impostor?
Impostor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POS). Broken into parts: im · POS · ter.
Is impostor 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 /ɪmˈpɒstə/ (im-POS-tuh).