How to pronounce orangutan
Say it like uh-RANG-uh-tan. Orangutan has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RANG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce orangutan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- RANG
- uh
- tan
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orangutan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tanGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of orangutan
American and British speakers say orangutan in essentially the same way: /əˈræŋəˌtæn/ in the US and /əˈræŋʊtæn/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-RANG-uh-tan.
What does orangutan mean?
- An arboreal ape, characterized by its shaggy reddish-brown coat and long arms, of the genus Pongo, native to Borneo and Sumatra.
Where does orangutan come from?
The name orangutan has been used in Old Javanese texts, notably in Rāmāyaṇa and Smaradahana, in the form of uraṅutan and wuraṅutan.
Questions about saying orangutan
How do you pronounce orangutan?
Say uh-RANG-uh-tan. The American pronunciation is /əˈræŋəˌtæn/. In British English it is /əˈræŋʊtæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in orangutan?
Orangutan has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RANG). Broken into parts: uh · RANG · uh · tan.
Do Americans and Brits say orangutan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈræŋəˌtæn/ and the British form is /əˈræŋʊtæn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.