How to pronounce motto
Say it like MOT-oh. Motto has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce motto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOT
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motto pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of motto
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- 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: MOT-oh.
What does motto mean?
- a favorite saying of a sect or political group
Where does motto come from?
Borrowed from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”), from Latin muttum (“a mutter, a grunt”), late 16th c.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with motto
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of motto.
Questions about saying motto
How do you pronounce motto?
Say MOT-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑtoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈmɒtəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in motto?
Motto has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOT). Broken into parts: MOT · oh.
Is motto pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈmɒtəʊ/ (MOT-oh).