How to pronounce ladder
Say it like LAD-er. Ladder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ladder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAD
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ladder pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LADSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of ladder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LAD-uh.
What does ladder mean?
- steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
- ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress“he climbed the career ladder”
- a row of unravelled stitches“she got a run in her stocking”
- come unraveled or undone as if by snagging“Her nylons were running”
Words that rhyme with ladder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ladder.
Questions about saying ladder
How do you pronounce ladder?
Say LAD-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈlædɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlædə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ladder?
Ladder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAD). Broken into parts: LAD · er.
Is ladder 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 /ˈlædə/ (LAD-uh).