How to pronounce porter
Say it like POR-ter. Porter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce porter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POR
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Porter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of porter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PAW-tuh.
What does porter mean?
- a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
- someone who guards an entrance
- United States writer of novels and short stories (1890-1980)
- carry luggage or supplies“They portered the food up Mount Kilimanjaro for the tourists”
Where does porter come from?
From Middle English porter, portere, portier, borrowed from Anglo-Norman portour and Old French porteor, from Late Latin portātor, from past participle of Latin portāre (“to carry”).
Words that rhyme with porter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of porter.
Questions about saying porter
How do you pronounce porter?
Say POR-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɔrtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈpɔːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in porter?
Porter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POR). Broken into parts: POR · ter.
Is porter 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 /ˈpɔːtə/ (PAW-tuh).