How to pronounce metropolitan
Say it like met-ruh-PAH-luh-tun. Metropolitan has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce metropolitan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- met
- ruh
- PAH
- luh
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Metropolitan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- metGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of metropolitan
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: met-ruh-POL-ih-tun.
What does metropolitan mean?
- relating to or characteristic of a metropolis“metropolitan area”
- in the Eastern Orthodox Church this title is given to a position between bishop and patriarch; equivalent to archbishop in western Christianity
- a person who lives in a metropolis
Words that rhyme with metropolitan
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of metropolitan.
Questions about saying metropolitan
How do you pronounce metropolitan?
Say met-ruh-PAH-luh-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˌmɛtrəˈpɑlətən/. In British English it is /ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in metropolitan?
Metropolitan has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PAH). Broken into parts: met · ruh · PAH · luh · tun.
Is metropolitan pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/ (met-ruh-POL-ih-tun).