How to pronounce postalveolar
Say it like poh-stal-VEE-uh-ler. Postalveolar has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce postalveolar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- poh
- stal
- VEE
- uh
- ler
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Postalveolar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- stalKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- VEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of postalveolar
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 4.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: poh-stal-vee-OH-luh.
What does postalveolar mean?
- Articulated with the tongue near or touching the back of the alveolar ridge.
- Any sound articulated with the tongue near or touching the back of the alveolar ridge, such as English sh in the word shoe.
Where does postalveolar come from?
From post- + alveolar.
Questions about saying postalveolar
How do you pronounce postalveolar?
Say poh-stal-VEE-uh-ler. The American pronunciation is /ˌpoʊstælˈviələr/. In British English it is /ˌpəʊstælviˈəʊlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in postalveolar?
Postalveolar has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VEE). Broken into parts: poh · stal · VEE · uh · ler.
Is postalveolar pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 4. The British form is /ˌpəʊstælviˈəʊlə/ (poh-stal-vee-OH-luh).