How to pronounce tarmac
Say it like TAR-mak. Tarmac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tarmac. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAR
- mak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tarmac pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- makGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of tarmac
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: TAH-mak.
What does tarmac mean?
- Tarmacadam.
- Any bituminous road surfacing material.
- The driveable surface of a road.
- To pave with tarmacadam or a similar material.
- To spend time idling on a runway, usually waiting for takeoff clearance.
Where does tarmac come from?
Clipping of tarmacadam, which is from tar + macadam (“crushed stones”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tarmac
How do you pronounce tarmac?
Say TAR-mak. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑrˌmæk/. In British English it is /ˈtɑːˌmæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tarmac?
Tarmac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAR). Broken into parts: TAR · mak.
Is tarmac 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 /ˈtɑːˌmæk/ (TAH-mak).