How to pronounce malaphor
Say it like MAL-uh-for. Malaphor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce malaphor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAL
- uh
- for
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Malaphor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- forKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of malaphor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAL-uh-fuh.
What does malaphor mean?
- An idiom blend: an error in which two similar figures of speech are merged, producing an often nonsensical result.
Where does malaphor come from?
Blend of malapropism + metaphor; attributed to Lawrence Harrison in the Washington Post article "Searching for Malaphors" (Aug.
Questions about saying malaphor
How do you pronounce malaphor?
Say MAL-uh-for. The American pronunciation is /ˈmæləfoʊr/. In British English it is /ˈmæləfə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in malaphor?
Malaphor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAL). Broken into parts: MAL · uh · for.
Is malaphor 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 /ˈmæləfə/ (MAL-uh-fuh).