How to pronounce motorbike
Say it like MOH-ter-byke. Motorbike has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce motorbike. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOH
- ter
- byke
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motorbike pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- bykeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of motorbike
- 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".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: MOH-tuh-byke.
What does motorbike mean?
- A motorcycle.
- A small and light motorcycle.
- To ride a motorbike; to travel by motorbike.“We motorbiked all over the US that summer.”
Where does motorbike come from?
From motor + bike.
Questions about saying motorbike
How do you pronounce motorbike?
Say MOH-ter-byke. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊtɚˌbaɪk/. In British English it is /ˈməʊtəˌbaɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in motorbike?
Motorbike has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · ter · byke.
Is motorbike 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 /ˈməʊtəˌbaɪk/ (MOH-tuh-byke).