How to pronounce “exhibitor”
Exhibitor is pronounced /ɪɡˈzɪbətər/. It has 4 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — zɪ. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 4 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting zɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oOoo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“exhibitor” sound by sound
“exhibitor” is built out of 8 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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ɡBack of the tongue seals against the soft palate and releases while the voice is already on — no puff of air.
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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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bPress both lips together and release them while the vocal folds are already vibrating, with no puff of air.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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ərThe same r-coloured tongue shape as /ɜːr/ but weak, short and unstressed — the ending of "teacher", "doctor", "sugar".
Silent letters in “exhibitor”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- hThe letter “h”Silent “h” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “exhibitor”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “exhibitor”
- How do you pronounce “exhibitor”?
- “exhibitor” is pronounced /ɪɡˈzɪbətər/, with the stress on the second syllable (zɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “exhibitor”?
- “exhibitor” has 4 syllables: ɪɡ · zɪ · bə · tər. The stress pattern is oOoo.
- Does “exhibitor” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “h”.
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