How to pronounce mortal
Say it like MOR-tul. Mortal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mortal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOR
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mortal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mortal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAW-tul.
What does mortal mean?
- subject to death“mortal beings”
- involving loss of divine grace or spiritual death“the seven deadly sins”
- unrelenting and deadly“mortal enemy”
- a human being“there was too much for one person to do”
Where does mortal come from?
From Middle English mortal, mortel, from Old French mortal, and their source Latin mortālis, from mors (“death”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with mortal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mortal.
Questions about saying mortal
How do you pronounce mortal?
Say MOR-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɔrtəl/. In British English it is /ˈmɔːtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mortal?
Mortal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOR). Broken into parts: MOR · tul.
Is mortal 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 /ˈmɔːtəl/ (MAW-tul).