How to pronounce total
Say it like TOH-tul. Total has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce total. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOH
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Total pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of total
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: TOH-tul.
What does total mean?
- the whole amount
- a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
- add up in number or quantity“The bills amounted to $2,000”“The bill came to $2,000”
- determine the sum of“Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town”
- damage beyond the point of repair“My son totaled our new car”“the rock star totals his guitar at every concert”
- constituting the full quantity or extent; complete“an entire town devastated by an earthquake”“gave full attention”
- complete in extent or degree and in every particular“a full game”“a total eclipse”
Where does total come from?
From Middle English total, from Old French total, from Medieval Latin tōtālis, from tōtus (“all, whole, entire”) + -ālis, the former element of unknown origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with total
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of total.
Questions about saying total
How do you pronounce total?
Say TOH-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtoʊtəl/. In British English it is /ˈtəʊtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in total?
Total has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOH). Broken into parts: TOH · tul.
Is total 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 /ˈtəʊtəl/ (TOH-tul).