How to pronounce mirliton
Say it like MEER-luh-ton. Mirliton has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mirliton. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEER
- luh
- ton
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mirliton pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tonGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of mirliton
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: MUR-lih-ton.
What does mirliton mean?
- A pear-shaped vegetable or its vine; the chayote.
- The eunuch flute, a kind of kazoo or membranophone.
- An 18th-century hussar hat resembling a slightly conical shako or tall fez.
Where does mirliton come from?
From French. Coined as a nonce to advertise a new women's bonnet, mirliton came to be applied to any trifle or trinket before acquiring several specific meanings.
Questions about saying mirliton
How do you pronounce mirliton?
Say MEER-luh-ton. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪrləˌtɑn/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːlɪˌtɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mirliton?
Mirliton has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEER). Broken into parts: MEER · luh · ton.
Is mirliton 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 /ˈmɜːlɪˌtɒn/ (MUR-lih-ton).