How to pronounce mountain
Say it like MOWN-tun. Mountain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mountain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOWN
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mountain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mountain
American and British speakers say mountain in essentially the same way: /ˈmaʊntən/ in the US and /ˈmaʊntɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: MOWN-tin.
What does mountain mean?
- a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
- (often followed by of) a large number or amount or extent“a batch of letters”“a deal of trouble”
Where does mountain come from?
From Middle English mountayne, mountain, montaigne, from Anglo-Norman muntaine, muntaigne, from Early Medieval Latin montānia, a collective based on Latin montem (“mountain”), from Proto-Indo-European *monti (compare Welsh mynydd (“mountain
Words that rhyme with mountain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mountain.
Questions about saying mountain
How do you pronounce mountain?
Say MOWN-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈmaʊntən/. In British English it is /ˈmaʊntɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mountain?
Mountain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOWN). Broken into parts: MOWN · tun.
Do Americans and Brits say mountain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmaʊntən/ and the British form is /ˈmaʊntɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.