How to pronounce orbit
Say it like OR-but. Orbit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce orbit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- but
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orbit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- butKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of orbit
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-bit.
What does orbit mean?
- the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another“he plotted the orbit of the moon”
- a particular environment or walk of life“his social sphere is limited”“it was a closed area of employment”
- an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:“the range of a supersonic jet”“a piano has a greater range than the human voice”
- move in an orbit“The moon orbits around the Earth”“The planets are orbiting the sun”
Where does orbit come from?
Inherited from Middle English orbite, orbita, from Latin orbita (“course, track, impression, mark”).
Questions about saying orbit
How do you pronounce orbit?
Say OR-but. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrbət/. In British English it is /ˈɔːbɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in orbit?
Orbit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · but.
Is orbit 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 /ˈɔːbɪt/ (AW-bit).