How to pronounce motorboat
Say it like MOH-tuh-boht. Motorboat 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 motorboat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOH
- tuh
- boht
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motorboat 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.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bohtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of motorboat
- 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-boht.
What does motorboat mean?
- Any vessel driven by an engine (either inboard or outboard), but especially a small one.
- To ride in a motorboat.
- To press or bury one's face between the breasts of a woman; to press or bury one's face between the breasts of a woman and shake one's head, hum, or vibrate one's lips in imitation of a motorboat engine's sound.
- To press one's face into or between (something else).
Where does motorboat come from?
From motor + boat.
Questions about saying motorboat
How do you pronounce motorboat?
Say MOH-tuh-boht. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊtəˌboʊt/. In British English it is /ˈməʊtəˌbəʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in motorboat?
Motorboat has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · tuh · boht.
Is motorboat pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈməʊtəˌbəʊt/ (MOH-tuh-boht).