How to pronounce onomatopoeia
Say it like on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh. Onomatopoeia has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (PEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce onomatopoeia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- on
- uh
- mat
- uh
- PEE
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Onomatopoeia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- onGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- matGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of onomatopoeia
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh.
What does onomatopoeia mean?
- The property of a word that sounds like what it represents.
- A word that sounds like what it represents, such as gurgle, stutter, or hiss.
- A word that appropriates a sound for another sensation or a perceived nature, such as thud, beep, or meow; an ideophone, phenomime.
Words that rhyme with onomatopoeia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of onomatopoeia.
Questions about saying onomatopoeia
How do you pronounce onomatopoeia?
Say on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑnəˌmætəˈpiə/. In British English it is /ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (PEE). Broken into parts: on · uh · mat · uh · PEE · uh.
Is onomatopoeia pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə/ (on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh).