How to pronounce pentameter
Say it like pen-TAM-ih-ter. Pentameter has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pentameter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pen
- TAM
- ih
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pentameter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- penKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- TAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pentameter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pen-TAM-ih-tuh.
What does pentameter mean?
- A line in a poem having five metrical feet.
- Poetic metre in which each line has five feet.
Where does pentameter come from?
From Middle French pentamètre, by surface analysis, penta- + meter.
Questions about saying pentameter
How do you pronounce pentameter?
Say pen-TAM-ih-ter. The American pronunciation is /pɛnˈtæmɪtər/. In British English it is /pɛnˈtæmɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pentameter?
Pentameter has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAM). Broken into parts: pen · TAM · ih · ter.
Is pentameter 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 /pɛnˈtæmɪtə/ (pen-TAM-ih-tuh).