How to pronounce mortar
Say it like MOR-ter. Mortar 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 mortar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOR
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mortar 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.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of mortar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAW-tuh.
What does mortar mean?
- a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
- used as a bond in masonry or for covering a wall
- a bowl-shaped vessel in which substances can be ground and mixed with a pestle
- plaster with mortar“mortar the wall”
Where does mortar come from?
From Middle English morter, from Old French mortier, from Latin mortārium.
Words that rhyme with mortar
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mortar.
Questions about saying mortar
How do you pronounce mortar?
Say MOR-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɔrtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmɔːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mortar?
Mortar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOR). Broken into parts: MOR · ter.
Is mortar 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 /ˈmɔːtə/ (MAW-tuh).