How to pronounce mute
Say it like MYOOT. Mute is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mute. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MYOOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mute pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MYOOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of mute
American and British speakers say mute in essentially the same way: /mjut/ in the US and /mjuːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: MYOOT.
What does mute mean?
- expressed without speech“a mute appeal”“a silent curse”
- unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
- a deaf person who is unable to speak
- a device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
- deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
Where does mute come from?
From Middle English muet, from Anglo-Norman muet, moet, Middle French muet, from mu (“dumb, mute”) + -et, remodelled after Latin mūtus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with mute
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mute.
Questions about saying mute
How do you pronounce mute?
Say MYOOT. The American pronunciation is /mjut/. In British English it is /mjuːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mute?
Mute is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MYOOT.
Do Americans and Brits say mute the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mjut/ and the British form is /mjuːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.