How to pronounce slaughter
Say it like SLAW-ter. Slaughter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slaughter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLAW
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slaughter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of slaughter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: SLAW-tuh.
What does slaughter mean?
- the killing of animals (as for food)
- a sound defeat
- the savage and excessive killing of many people
- kill (animals) usually for food consumption“They slaughtered their only goat to survive the winter”
- kill a large number of people indiscriminately“The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda”
Where does slaughter come from?
From Middle English slaughter, from Old Norse *slahtr, later sláttr, from Proto-Germanic *slahtrą, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną.
Words that rhyme with slaughter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of slaughter.
Questions about saying slaughter
How do you pronounce slaughter?
Say SLAW-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈslɔtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈslɔːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slaughter?
Slaughter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLAW). Broken into parts: SLAW · ter.
Is slaughter 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 /ˈslɔːtə/ (SLAW-tuh).