How to pronounce mortality
Say it like mor-TAL-uh-tee. Mortality has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mortality. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mor
- TAL
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mortality pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- morKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- TALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of mortality
- 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: maw-TAL-ih-tee.
What does mortality mean?
- the quality or state of being mortal
- the ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 per year
Where does mortality come from?
From Old French mortalite, from Latin mortālitās, from mortālis (“relating to death”), from mors (“death”); equivalent to mortal + -ity.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with mortality
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mortality.
Questions about saying mortality
How do you pronounce mortality?
Say mor-TAL-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /mɔrˈtæləti/. In British English it is /ˌmɔːˈtælɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mortality?
Mortality has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAL). Broken into parts: mor · TAL · uh · tee.
Is mortality 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 /ˌmɔːˈtælɪti/ (maw-TAL-ih-tee).