How to pronounce triathlon
Say it like try-ATH-lun. Triathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ATH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce triathlon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- try
- ATH
- lun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Three syllables: 'try-ATH-lon'. Don't add an extra 'uh'.
Triathlon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tryGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ATHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- lunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of triathlon
American and British speakers say triathlon in essentially the same way: /ˌtraɪˈæθlən/ in the US and /traɪˈæθlɒn/ in the UK.
British respelling: try-ATH-lon.
What does triathlon mean?
- An athletics event in which contestants compete in swimming, cycling and running in turn.
- Generally, a sports event in which contestant compete in a combination of three sports.
Where does triathlon come from?
From tri- + -athlon.
Words that rhyme with triathlon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of triathlon.
Questions about saying triathlon
How do you pronounce triathlon?
Say try-ATH-lun. The American pronunciation is /ˌtraɪˈæθlən/. In British English it is /traɪˈæθlɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in triathlon?
Triathlon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ATH). Broken into parts: try · ATH · lun.
Do Americans and Brits say triathlon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌtraɪˈæθlən/ and the British form is /traɪˈæθlɒn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.