How to pronounce tribute
Say it like TRIB-yoot. Tribute has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tribute. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TRIB
- yoot
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tribute pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yootKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of tribute
American and British speakers say tribute in essentially the same way: /ˈtrɪbjut/ in the US and /ˈtrɪbjuːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRIB-yoot.
What does tribute mean?
- something given or done as an expression of esteem
- payment by one nation for protection by another
- payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence“every store in the neighborhood had to pay him protection”
Where does tribute come from?
From Middle English tribut (14th c.), from Middle French tribut, from Latin tributum (“tribute”, literally “a thing contributed or paid”), past participle of tribuere (“to assign, allot”), usually derived from tribus (“tribe”, which see).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tribute
How do you pronounce tribute?
Say TRIB-yoot. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrɪbjut/. In British English it is /ˈtrɪbjuːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tribute?
Tribute has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIB). Broken into parts: TRIB · yoot.
Do Americans and Brits say tribute the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtrɪbjut/ and the British form is /ˈtrɪbjuːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.