How to pronounce tolerant
Say it like TAH-luh-runt. Tolerant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tolerant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAH
- luh
- runt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tolerant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- runtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tolerant
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TOL-uh-runt.
What does tolerant mean?
- showing respect for the rights or opinions or practices of others
- tolerant and forgiving under provocation“our neighbor was very kind about the window our son broke”
- showing or characterized by broad-mindedness“a broad political stance”“generous and broad sympathies”
Where does tolerant come from?
Either borrowed from French tolérant or directly from its source Latin tolerans, present participle of, and participial adjective from tolerō (“to endure”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying tolerant
How do you pronounce tolerant?
Say TAH-luh-runt. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑlərənt/. In British English it is /ˈtɒlərənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tolerant?
Tolerant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAH). Broken into parts: TAH · luh · runt.
Is tolerant pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈtɒlərənt/ (TOL-uh-runt).