How to pronounce roadrunner
Say it like ROH-druhn-er. Roadrunner has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce roadrunner. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROH
- druhn
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Roadrunner pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- druhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of roadrunner
- 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: ROH-druhn-uh.
What does roadrunner mean?
- Either of two species of fast-running bird in the genus Geococcyx of the cuckoo family native to North and Central America, the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) and, especially, the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).
Where does roadrunner come from?
From road + runner, probably a calque of Spanish correcaminos (“roadrunner”), from correr (“to run”) + caminos (“roads”).
Questions about saying roadrunner
How do you pronounce roadrunner?
Say ROH-druhn-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈroʊˌdrʌnɚ/. In British English it is /ˈrəʊˌdrʌnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in roadrunner?
Roadrunner has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH). Broken into parts: ROH · druhn · er.
Is roadrunner 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 /ˈrəʊˌdrʌnə/ (ROH-druhn-uh).