How to pronounce tropical
Say it like TROP-ih-kul. Tropical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TROP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tropical. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TROP
- ih
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tropical pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TROPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tropical
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TROP-ih-kul.
What does tropical mean?
- relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)“tropical islands”“tropical fruit”
- of or relating to the tropics, or either tropic“tropical year”
- characterized by or of the nature of a trope or tropes; changed from its literal sense
Where does tropical come from?
From tropic + -al.
Questions about saying tropical
How do you pronounce tropical?
Say TROP-ih-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrɑpɪkəl/. In British English it is /ˈtrɒpɪkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tropical?
Tropical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TROP). Broken into parts: TROP · ih · kul.
Is tropical 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 /ˈtrɒpɪkəl/ (TROP-ih-kul).