How to pronounce oatmeal
Say it like OHT-meel. Oatmeal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oatmeal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OHT
- meel
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oatmeal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- meelGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oatmeal
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OHT-meel.
What does oatmeal mean?
- Meal made from rolled or round oats.
- A breakfast cereal made from rolled oats, cooked in milk or water.
- A light grayish brown color, like that of oatmeal.
- Of a light grayish brown color, like that of oatmeal.
Where does oatmeal come from?
From Middle English otemele, from ote (“oat”) + mele (“meal, coarse-ground grains”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying oatmeal
How do you pronounce oatmeal?
Say OHT-meel. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊtˌmil/. In British English it is /ˈəʊtmiːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oatmeal?
Oatmeal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OHT). Broken into parts: OHT · meel.
Is oatmeal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈəʊtmiːl/ (OHT-meel).