How to pronounce Motown
Say it like MOH-town. Motown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Motown. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈmoʊˌtaʊn/MOH-town
UK British/ˈməʊˌtaʊn/MOH-town
- MOH
- town
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motown 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.
- townGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of Motown
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: MOH-town.
What does Motown mean?
noun
- the largest city in Michigan and a major Great Lakes port; center of the United States automobile industry; located in southeastern Michigan on the Detroit river across from Windsor
Questions about saying Motown
How do you pronounce Motown?
Say MOH-town. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊˌtaʊn/. In British English it is /ˈməʊˌtaʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Motown?
Motown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · town.
Is Motown 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 /ˈməʊˌtaʊn/ (MOH-town).