How to pronounce meter
Say it like MEE-ter. Meter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce meter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEE
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Meter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of meter
- 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: MEE-tuh.
What does meter mean?
- the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
- any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity
- (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse
- measure with a meter“meter the flow of water”
- stamp with a meter indicating the postage“meter the mail”
Where does meter come from?
Cognate with Scots mettar, metter (“meter, measurer”), Saterland Frisian Meter, Meeter (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), West Frisian mjitter (“measurer”), Dutch meter (“measurer, gauge”), German Low German Meter (“measuring device, ga
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with meter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of meter.
Words that sound like meter
Questions about saying meter
How do you pronounce meter?
Say MEE-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈmitɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmiːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in meter?
Meter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE). Broken into parts: MEE · ter.
Is meter 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 /ˈmiːtə/ (MEE-tuh).
What words sound the same as meter?
Meter sounds the same as metre in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.