How to pronounce teetotaller
Say it like TEE-toh-tuh-ler. Teetotaller has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce teetotaller. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEE
- toh
- tuh
- ler
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Teetotaller pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of teetotaller
- 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.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: tee-TOH-tuh-luh.
What does teetotaller mean?
- British standard spelling of teetotaler.
Where does teetotaller come from?
From teetotal + -er.
Questions about saying teetotaller
How do you pronounce teetotaller?
Say TEE-toh-tuh-ler. The American pronunciation is /ˈtitoʊtəlɚ/. In British English it is /tiːˈtəʊtələ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in teetotaller?
Teetotaller has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEE). Broken into parts: TEE · toh · tuh · ler.
Is teetotaller pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /tiːˈtəʊtələ/ (tee-TOH-tuh-luh).