How to pronounce nightmare
Say it like NYTE-mair. Nightmare has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NYTE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nightmare. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NYTE
- mair
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nightmare pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NYTESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- mairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of nightmare
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NYTE-mair.
What does nightmare mean?
- a situation resembling a terrifying dream
- a terrifying or deeply upsetting dream
Where does nightmare come from?
From Middle English nyghtmare, from Old English *nihtmare, equivalent to night + mare (“evil spirit believed to afflict a sleeping person”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying nightmare
How do you pronounce nightmare?
Say NYTE-mair. The American pronunciation is /ˈnaɪtˌmɛr/. In British English it is /ˈnaɪtˌmɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nightmare?
Nightmare has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NYTE). Broken into parts: NYTE · mair.
Is nightmare pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈnaɪtˌmɛə/ (NYTE-mair).