How to pronounce thunder
Say it like THUHN-der. Thunder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thunder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THUHN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thunder pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of thunder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THUHN-duh.
What does thunder mean?
- a deep prolonged loud noise
- a booming or crashing noise caused by air expanding along the path of a bolt of lightning
- street names for heroin
- move fast, noisily, and heavily“The bus thundered down the road”
- utter words loudly and forcefully“`Get out of here,' he roared”
- be the case that thunder is being heard“Whenever it thunders, my dog crawls under the bed”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with thunder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thunder.
Questions about saying thunder
How do you pronounce thunder?
Say THUHN-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈθʌndɚ/. In British English it is /ˈθʌndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thunder?
Thunder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUHN). Broken into parts: THUHN · der.
Is thunder 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 /ˈθʌndə/ (THUHN-duh).