How to pronounce pothole
Say it like POT-hohl. Pothole has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pothole. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POT
- hohl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pothole pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- hohlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of pothole
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: POT-hohl.
What does pothole mean?
- A shallow pit or other edged depression in a road's surface, especially when caused by erosion, weather or traffic.
- A pit formed in the bed of a turbulent stream.
- A vertical cave system, often found in limestone.
- A hole or recess on the top of a stove into which a pot may be placed.
Where does pothole come from?
From dialectal pot (“pit, hollow, cavity”) + hole.
Questions about saying pothole
How do you pronounce pothole?
Say POT-hohl. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑtˌhoʊl/. In British English it is /ˈpɒtˌhəʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pothole?
Pothole has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POT). Broken into parts: POT · hohl.
Is pothole pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈpɒtˌhəʊl/ (POT-hohl).