How to pronounce pistol
Say it like PIS-tul. Pistol has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pistol. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIS
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pistol pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pistol
American and British speakers say pistol in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪstəl/ in the US and /ˈpɪstəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIS-tul.
What does pistol mean?
- a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
Where does pistol come from?
Alternatively, if from Romance to German, from or related to Italian pistolese (“short dagger”), from Italian Pistoia (“a Tuscan town noted for its gunsmithing”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pistol
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pistol.
Questions about saying pistol
How do you pronounce pistol?
Say PIS-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪstəl/. In British English it is /ˈpɪstəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pistol?
Pistol has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIS). Broken into parts: PIS · tul.
Do Americans and Brits say pistol the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪstəl/ and the British form is /ˈpɪstəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.