How to pronounce telegraph
Say it like TEL-uh-graf. Telegraph has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce telegraph. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEL
- uh
- graf
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Telegraph pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- grafGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of telegraph
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: TEL-ih-grahf.
What does telegraph mean?
- apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
- send cables, wires, or telegrams
Where does telegraph come from?
Borrowed from French télégraphe, equivalent to tele- (“far, distant”) + -graph (“writing”), suggested as a new name for Claude Chappe's overland semaphore network by André François Miot de Mélito in place of Chappe's original tachygraphe (“
Questions about saying telegraph
How do you pronounce telegraph?
Say TEL-uh-graf. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛləˌɡræf/. In British English it is /ˈtɛlɪˌɡrɑːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in telegraph?
Telegraph has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEL). Broken into parts: TEL · uh · graf.
Is telegraph pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /ˈtɛlɪˌɡrɑːf/ (TEL-ih-grahf).