How to pronounce tumor
Say it like TOO-mer. Tumor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tumor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOO
- mer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tumor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- merKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of tumor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: TYOO-muh.
What does tumor mean?
- an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose
Where does tumor come from?
From Middle English tumor, from Old French tumor, from Latin tumor (“swelling”), from tumeō (“bulge, swell”, verb), from Proto-Italic *tumēō, from Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- tumour
Words that rhyme with tumor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tumor.
Questions about saying tumor
How do you pronounce tumor?
Say TOO-mer. The American pronunciation is /ˈtumɚ/. In British English it is /ˈtjuːmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tumor?
Tumor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOO). Broken into parts: TOO · mer.
Is tumor pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈtjuːmə/ (TYOO-muh).