How to pronounce tarpaulin
Say it like TAR-puh-lin. Tarpaulin has three 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 tarpaulin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAR
- puh
- lin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tarpaulin 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.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- linKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of tarpaulin
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: tah-PAW-lin.
What does tarpaulin mean?
- A heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth or plastic sheet, used as a cover or blanket (often as weatherproofing, or to keep loose cargo from blowing off a lorry).“Throw a tarpaulin over that woodpile before it gets wet.”
- To cover with a tarpaulin.
Where does tarpaulin come from?
From tar + pall (“heavy canvas”) + -ing.
Questions about saying tarpaulin
How do you pronounce tarpaulin?
Say TAR-puh-lin. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑrpəlɪn/. In British English it is /tɑːˈpɔːlɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tarpaulin?
Tarpaulin has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAR). Broken into parts: TAR · puh · lin.
Is tarpaulin pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /tɑːˈpɔːlɪn/ (tah-PAW-lin).