How to pronounce Oriental
Say it like or-ee-EN-tul. Oriental has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Oriental. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- or
- ee
- EN
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oriental pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- orGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Oriental
American and British speakers say Oriental in essentially the same way: /ˌɔriˈɛntəl/ in the US and /ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: aw-rih-EN-tul.
What does Oriental mean?
- denoting or characteristic of countries of the Far East“oriental civilization”
Words that rhyme with Oriental
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Oriental.
Questions about saying Oriental
How do you pronounce Oriental?
Say or-ee-EN-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɔriˈɛntəl/. In British English it is /ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Oriental?
Oriental has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EN). Broken into parts: or · ee · EN · tul.
Do Americans and Brits say Oriental the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɔriˈɛntəl/ and the British form is /ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.