How to pronounce tonsil
Say it like TON-sul. Tonsil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tonsil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TON
- sul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tonsil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tonsil
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TON-sil.
What does tonsil mean?
- Any of various small masses of lymphoid tissues.
Where does tonsil come from?
Borrowed from French tonsille or Latin tonsillae (“the tonsils in the throat”, plural).
Words that rhyme with tonsil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tonsil.
Questions about saying tonsil
How do you pronounce tonsil?
Say TON-sul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑnsəl/. In British English it is /ˈtɒnsɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tonsil?
Tonsil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TON). Broken into parts: TON · sul.
Is tonsil 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 /ˈtɒnsɪl/ (TON-sil).