How to pronounce misnomer
Say it like mis-NOH-mer. Misnomer has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce misnomer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mis
- NOH
- mer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Misnomer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- misGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- NOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- merKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of misnomer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: mis-NOH-muh.
What does misnomer mean?
- A mistake in the naming of a person or place; a misidentification.
- An incorrect use of a term, especially one which is misleading; a misname.
- A term which is misleading, even if firmly established, technically correct, or both.“The name Chinese checkers is a misnomer since the game has nothing to do with China.”
- To use an incorrect, and especially misleading, name for (someone or something); to misidentify, to misname.
Where does misnomer come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Questions about saying misnomer
How do you pronounce misnomer?
Say mis-NOH-mer. The American pronunciation is /ˌmɪˈsnoʊmər/. In British English it is /ˌmɪˈsnəʊmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in misnomer?
Misnomer has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOH). Broken into parts: mis · NOH · mer.
Is misnomer 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 /ˌmɪˈsnəʊmə/ (mis-NOH-muh).