How to pronounce napoleon
Say it like nuh-POH-lee-un. Napoleon has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce napoleon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nuh
- POH
- lee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Napoleon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- POHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of napoleon
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: nuh-POH-leern.
What does napoleon mean?
- French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
- a rectangular piece of pastry with thin flaky layers and filled with custard cream
- a card game similar to whist; usually played for stakes
Where does napoleon come from?
Borrowed from French Napoléon (“a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte”).
Questions about saying napoleon
How do you pronounce napoleon?
Say nuh-POH-lee-un. The American pronunciation is /nəˈpoʊliən/. In British English it is /nəˈpəʊlɪən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in napoleon?
Napoleon has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POH). Broken into parts: nuh · POH · lee · un.
Is napoleon pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /nəˈpəʊlɪən/ (nuh-POH-leern).