How to pronounce telephone
Say it like TEL-uh-fohn. Telephone 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 telephone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEL
- uh
- fohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Telephone 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.
- fohnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of telephone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: TEL-ih-fohn.
What does telephone mean?
- electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds“I talked to him on the telephone”
- transmitting speech at a distance
- get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone“I tried to call you all night”“Take two aspirin and call me in the morning”
Where does telephone come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying telephone
How do you pronounce telephone?
Say TEL-uh-fohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/. In British English it is /ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in telephone?
Telephone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEL). Broken into parts: TEL · uh · fohn.
Is telephone pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn/ (TEL-ih-fohn).