How to pronounce mulligan
Say it like MUHL-ih-gun. Mulligan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mulligan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUHL
- ih
- gun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mulligan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MUHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mulligan
American and British speakers say mulligan in essentially the same way: /ˈmʌlɪɡən/ in the US and /ˈmʌlɪɡən/ in the UK.
British respelling: MUHL-ih-gun.
What does mulligan mean?
- An unpenalized chance to re-take a stroke that went awry.“If you lose your drive in the water, take a mulligan and try again.”
- An opportunity (sometimes penalized) for a player to reshuffle their cards and draw a new initial hand at the beginning of a game.
- A second chance.“Don't do poorly in your first interview; you won't get a mulligan.”
Where does mulligan come from?
Attested since the 1930s in the sense “chance to re-take a golf stroke”; probably from the name Mulligan, after a golfer who replayed a stroke.
Questions about saying mulligan
How do you pronounce mulligan?
Say MUHL-ih-gun. The American pronunciation is /ˈmʌlɪɡən/. In British English it is /ˈmʌlɪɡən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mulligan?
Mulligan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUHL). Broken into parts: MUHL · ih · gun.
Do Americans and Brits say mulligan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmʌlɪɡən/ and the British form is /ˈmʌlɪɡən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.