How to pronounce spectacle
Say it like SPEK-tuh-kul. Spectacle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce spectacle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPEK
- tuh
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spectacle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of spectacle
American and British speakers say spectacle in essentially the same way: /ˈspɛktəkəl/ in the US and /ˈspɛktəkəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPEK-tuh-kul.
What does spectacle mean?
- something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)“the tragic spectacle of cripples trying to escape”
- an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale
- a blunder that makes you look ridiculous; used in the phrase make a spectacle of yourself
Where does spectacle come from?
From Middle English spectacle, from Middle French spectacle, from Latin spectāculum (“a show, spectacle”), from spectō (“to see, behold”), frequentative of speciō (“to see”).
Questions about saying spectacle
How do you pronounce spectacle?
Say SPEK-tuh-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˈspɛktəkəl/. In British English it is /ˈspɛktəkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spectacle?
Spectacle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPEK). Broken into parts: SPEK · tuh · kul.
Do Americans and Brits say spectacle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈspɛktəkəl/ and the British form is /ˈspɛktəkəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.