How to pronounce mat
Say it like MAT. Mat is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of mat
American and British speakers say mat in essentially the same way: /mæt/ in the US and /mæt/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAT.
What does mat mean?
- a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
- mounting consisting of a border or background for a picture
- sports equipment consisting of a piece of thick padding on the floor for gymnastic sports
- twist together or entwine into a confusing mass“The child entangled the cord”
- change texture so as to become matted and felt-like“The fabric felted up after several washes”
- not reflecting light; not glossy“flat wall paint”“a photograph with a matte finish”
Where does mat come from?
Cognate with German Matte (“mat”), Danish måtte (“mat”), Faroese and Icelandic motta (“rug, mat”), Norwegian matte (“mat, rug”), Swedish matta (“carpet, rug, mat”).
Words that rhyme with mat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mat.
Words that sound like mat
Questions about saying mat
How do you pronounce mat?
Say MAT. The American pronunciation is /mæt/. In British English it is /mæt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mat?
Mat is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MAT.
Do Americans and Brits say mat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mæt/ and the British form is /mæt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as mat?
Mat sounds the same as matt, matte in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.