How to pronounce mother
Say it like MUHTH-er. Mother has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUHTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mother. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUHTH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mother pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MUHTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of mother
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUHTH-uh.
What does mother mean?
- a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)“the mother of three children”
- a stringy slimy substance consisting of yeast cells and bacteria; forms during fermentation and is added to cider or wine to produce vinegar
- a term of address for an elderly woman
- care for like a mother“She fusses over her husband”
- make (offspring) by reproduction“Abraham begot Isaac”“John fathered four daughters”
Where does mother come from?
Some have proposed that the "dregs" sense is from Middle Dutch modder (“filth”), from Proto-Germanic *muþraz (“sediment”), but modder is not known in this meaning.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with mother
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mother.
Questions about saying mother
How do you pronounce mother?
Say MUHTH-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmʌðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmʌðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mother?
Mother has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUHTH). Broken into parts: MUHTH · er.
Is mother 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 /ˈmʌðə/ (MUHTH-uh).