How to pronounce Potomac
Say it like puh-TOH-muk. Potomac has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Potomac. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- TOH
- muk
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Potomac pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- mukKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Potomac
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: puh-TOH-muk.
What does Potomac mean?
- A river that flows along the borders of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, and through Washington, United States.
Where does Potomac come from?
European spelling of an Algonquian name, variously claimed to mean "river of swans", "place where people trade" or "place to which tribute is brought".
Questions about saying Potomac
How do you pronounce Potomac?
Say puh-TOH-muk. The American pronunciation is /pəˈtoʊmək/. In British English it is /pəˈtəʊmək/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Potomac?
Potomac has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH). Broken into parts: puh · TOH · muk.
Is Potomac pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /pəˈtəʊmək/ (puh-TOH-muk).