How to pronounce motorcade
Say it like MOH-ter-kayd. Motorcade 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 motorcade. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOH
- ter
- kayd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motorcade 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.
- kaydGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of motorcade
- 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-kayd.
What does motorcade mean?
- A procession of cars carrying VIPs, especially political figures.“JFK was assassinated in a motorcade.”
- To travel in a motorcade.
Where does motorcade come from?
Blend of motor + cavalcade.
Questions about saying motorcade
How do you pronounce motorcade?
Say MOH-ter-kayd. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊtɚˌkeɪd/. In British English it is /ˈməʊtəˌkeɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in motorcade?
Motorcade has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · ter · kayd.
Is motorcade 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 /ˈməʊtəˌkeɪd/ (MOH-tuh-kayd).