How to pronounce skeleton
Say it like SKEL-uh-tun. Skeleton has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce skeleton. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKEL
- uh
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Skeleton pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of skeleton
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: SKEL-ih-tun.
What does skeleton mean?
- something reduced to its minimal form“the battalion was a mere skeleton of its former self”“the bare skeleton of a novel”
- a scandal that is kept secret“there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet”
- the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
Words that rhyme with skeleton
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of skeleton.
Questions about saying skeleton
How do you pronounce skeleton?
Say SKEL-uh-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɛlətən/. In British English it is /ˈskɛlɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in skeleton?
Skeleton has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKEL). Broken into parts: SKEL · uh · tun.
Is skeleton pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈskɛlɪtən/ (SKEL-ih-tun).