How to pronounce longitude
Say it like LON-juh-tood. Longitude has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce longitude. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LON
- juh
- tood
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Longitude pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- juhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- toodGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of longitude
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: LON-jih-tyood.
What does longitude mean?
- Angular distance measured west or east of the prime meridian.
- Any imaginary line perpendicular to the equator and part of a great circle passing through the North Pole and South Pole.
Where does longitude come from?
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French longitude, from Latin longitūdō (“length, a measured length”), from longus (“long”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying longitude
How do you pronounce longitude?
Say LON-juh-tood. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɑndʒəˌtud/. In British English it is /ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in longitude?
Longitude has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LON). Broken into parts: LON · juh · tood.
Is longitude 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 /ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd/ (LON-jih-tyood).