How to pronounce somersault
Say it like SUHM-er-sawlt. Somersault has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce somersault. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHM
- er
- sawlt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Somersault pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- sawltGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of somersault
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUHM-uh-solt.
What does somersault mean?
- Starting on one's feet, an instance of rotating one's body 360 degrees while airborne or on the ground, with one's feet passing over one's head.
- To perform a somersault.“The performer somersaulted all the way across the stage.”
Where does somersault come from?
Cognate with Spanish sobresaltar (“to spook, startle”) and Portuguese sobressaltar (“to spook, scare, jump over”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying somersault
How do you pronounce somersault?
Say SUHM-er-sawlt. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌmɚˌsɔlt/. In British English it is /ˈsʌməˌsɒlt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in somersault?
Somersault has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM). Broken into parts: SUHM · er · sawlt.
Is somersault 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 /ˈsʌməˌsɒlt/ (SUHM-uh-solt).