How to pronounce mayor
Say it like MAY-er. Mayor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mayor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mayor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of mayor
- American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAIR.
What does mayor mean?
- the head of a city government
Where does mayor come from?
From Middle English maire, from Old French maire (“head of a city or town government”), a substantivation of Old French maire (“greater”), from Latin maior (“bigger, greater, superior”), comparative of magnus (“big, great”).
Words that rhyme with mayor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mayor.
Questions about saying mayor
How do you pronounce mayor?
Say MAY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪɚ/. In British English it is /mɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mayor?
Mayor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · er.
Is mayor pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1. The British form is /mɛə/ (MAIR).