How to pronounce semitone
Say it like SEM-ee-tohn. Semitone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce semitone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEM
- ee
- tohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Semitone pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tohnKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of semitone
- 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: SEM-ee-tohn.
What does semitone mean?
- One of two parts, equal or unequal, in which a whole tone is divided.
- The semitone in 12-tone equal temperament, with frequency ratio of the twelfth root of two.
- Any of the pitches of a chromatic scale.
Where does semitone come from?
From semi- + tone.
Questions about saying semitone
How do you pronounce semitone?
Say SEM-ee-tohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛmitoʊn/. In British English it is /ˈsɛmitəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in semitone?
Semitone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEM). Broken into parts: SEM · ee · tohn.
Is semitone 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 /ˈsɛmitəʊn/ (SEM-ee-tohn).