How to pronounce tanker
Say it like TANG-ker. Tanker has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TANG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tanker. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TANG
- ker
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tanker pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- kerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of tanker
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TANG-kuh.
What does tanker mean?
- A tankship, a vessel used to transport large quantities of fluid.
- A motor truck (lorry) with a tank to hold bulk liquid (with or without internal baffles): a fuel tanker (lorry), petrol tanker, road tanker.
- An aircraft carrying a large supply of jet fuel or avgas for aerial refueling of other aircraft, plus equipment allowing the in-air transfer of fuel.“Without the KC-46 tankers orbiting in friendly airspace, our fighters would've run out of fuel long before reaching the combat zone.”
- To transport (oil, etc.) in a tanker.
- To carry more fuel than necessary for a flight, in order to avoid having to refuel at a destination where fuel is more expensive or in short supply.
Where does tanker come from?
From tank + -er.
Words that rhyme with tanker
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tanker.
Questions about saying tanker
How do you pronounce tanker?
Say TANG-ker. The American pronunciation is /ˈtæŋkɚ/. In British English it is /ˈtæŋkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tanker?
Tanker has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TANG). Broken into parts: TANG · ker.
Is tanker 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 /ˈtæŋkə/ (TANG-kuh).