How to pronounce martyr
Say it like MAR-ter. Martyr has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce martyr. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAR
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Martyr pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MARSay 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 martyr
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAH-tuh.
What does martyr mean?
- One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.“The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.”
- One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
- One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.“Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.”
- To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
- To persecute.“Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.”
- To torment; to torture.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with martyr
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of martyr.
Questions about saying martyr
How do you pronounce martyr?
Say MAR-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑrtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmɑːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in martyr?
Martyr has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAR). Broken into parts: MAR · ter.
Is martyr 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 /ˈmɑːtə/ (MAH-tuh).