How to pronounce rotor
Say it like ROH-ter. Rotor has two 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 rotor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROH
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rotor 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.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of rotor
- 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".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ROH-tuh.
What does rotor mean?
- A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
- In a disc brake, the metal disc attached to the wheel hub.
- The wing of a helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft (e.g., heli-type drone).
Where does rotor come from?
From an irregular clipping of rotator, originally in mathematics, coined by English mathematician and philosopher William Kingdon Clifford based on vector, see quotations.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
- stator
Words that rhyme with rotor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rotor.
Questions about saying rotor
How do you pronounce rotor?
Say ROH-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈroʊtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈrəʊtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rotor?
Rotor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH). Broken into parts: ROH · ter.
Is rotor 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 /ˈrəʊtə/ (ROH-tuh).