How to pronounce matter
Say it like MAT-er. Matter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce matter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAT
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Matter 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of matter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: MAT-uh.
What does matter mean?
- a vaguely specified concern“several matters to attend to”“it is none of your affair”
- some situation or event that is thought about“he kept drifting off the topic”“he had been thinking about the subject for several years”
- that which has mass and occupies space“physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it”
- have weight; have import, carry weight“It does not matter much”
Where does matter come from?
Displaced Middle English andweorc, andwork (“material, matter”), from Old English andweorc (“matter, substance, material”), Old English intinga (“matter, affair, business”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with matter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of matter.
Words that sound like matter
Questions about saying matter
How do you pronounce matter?
Say MAT-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmætɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmætə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in matter?
Matter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAT). Broken into parts: MAT · er.
Is matter 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 /ˈmætə/ (MAT-uh).
What words sound the same as matter?
Matter sounds the same as mater in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.