English pronunciation · Words Starting with A
Athlete Pronunciation
Athlete is pronounced ATH-leet, IPA /ˈæθˌlit/.
ATH-leet
US /ˈæθˌlit/ · UK /ˈæθliːt/
Syllables: ATH · leet (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun: A person trained to compete in sport, especially in track and field events.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Athlete in a Sentence
- She was the fastest athlete in the county.
- Every athlete had to pass a medical first.
- He trained as a long jump athlete for eight years.
Common Mispronunciations of Athlete
Not ATH-uh-leet
Two syllables is the whole word. An extra vowel between the th and the l is one of the most commented-on slips in English, and it shows up in athletic too.
Not AD-leet
Let air pass over the tongue tip for the th rather than stopping it with a d.
Tip: Say ath, then leet, with nothing in between.
More words starting with a · Every word in the pronunciation guide