How to pronounce ornament
Say it like OR-nuh-munt. Ornament has three 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 ornament. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- nuh
- munt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ornament 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.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- muntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ornament
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-nuh-munt.
What does ornament mean?
- An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns.
- Christmas ornament: a Christmas tree decoration.
- A musical flourish that is unnecessary to the overall melodic or harmonic line, but serves to decorate that line.
- To decorate.“We will ornament the windows with trim to make the room seem brighter.”
- To add to.“The editor ornamented his plain writing, making it fancier but less clear.”
Where does ornament come from?
From Middle English ornament, from Old French ornement, from Latin ornamentum (“equipment, apparatus, furniture, trappings, adornment, embellishment”), from ornāre (“to equip, adorn”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ornament
How do you pronounce ornament?
Say OR-nuh-munt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrnəmənt/. In British English it is /ˈɔːnəmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ornament?
Ornament has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · nuh · munt.
Is ornament 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 /ˈɔːnəmənt/ (AW-nuh-munt).