How to pronounce oyster
Say it like OY-ster. Oyster has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oyster. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OY
- ster
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oyster pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- sterKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of oyster
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: OY-stuh.
What does oyster mean?
- marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters
- edible body of any of numerous oysters
- a small muscle on each side of the back of a fowl
- gather oysters, dig oysters
Where does oyster come from?
From Middle English oystre, from Old English ostre, reinforced or superseded by Anglo-Norman oistre, which is from Old French oistre, uistre (compare modern French huître); both lines (Old English and Old French) from Latin ostrea, from Anc
Words that rhyme with oyster
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oyster.
Questions about saying oyster
How do you pronounce oyster?
Say OY-ster. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔɪstɚ/. In British English it is /ˈɔɪstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oyster?
Oyster has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OY). Broken into parts: OY · ster.
Is oyster 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 /ˈɔɪstə/ (OY-stuh).