How to pronounce thermometer
Say it like ther-MOM-uh-ter. Thermometer has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thermometer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ther
- MOM
- uh
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thermometer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- therKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- MOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of thermometer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: thuh-MOM-ih-tuh.
What does thermometer mean?
- An apparatus used to measure temperature.
Where does thermometer come from?
Borrowed from French thermomètre; equivalent to thermo- + -meter.
Words that rhyme with thermometer
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thermometer.
Questions about saying thermometer
How do you pronounce thermometer?
Say ther-MOM-uh-ter. The American pronunciation is /θɚˈmɑmətɚ/. In British English it is /θəˈmɒmɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thermometer?
Thermometer has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOM). Broken into parts: ther · MOM · uh · ter.
Is thermometer 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 /θəˈmɒmɪtə/ (thuh-MOM-ih-tuh).