How to Pronounce Alligator

To pronounce "alligator", say ALL-ig-at-or — 4 syllables, IPA /ˈæɫəˌɡeɪtɝ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

alligator

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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4

Syllables

9

Letters

/ˈæɫəˌɡeɪtɝ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ˈælɪɡˌeɪtɐ/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “alligator”

Break "alligator" into 4 beats and lean on "ALL" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with perpetrator and collaborator, if that helps it stick.

What does alligator mean?

noun

  1. Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator sinensis, in the genus Alligator within order Crocodilia, which have sharp teeth and very strong jaws and are native to the Americas and China, respectively.

    “All you could see of the alligator were its two eyes above the water, and suddenly it snatched up and caught the poor bird with its strong jaws full of sharp teeth.”

  2. Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

verb

  1. (of paint or other coatings) To crack in a pattern resembling an alligator's skin.

interjection

  1. Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which each iteration is sequentially numbered and supposed to be approximately one second in length.

Synonyms

gator

Hear “alligator” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with alligator

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

perpetratorcollaboratoroperatorfetorindicatorarbitratorcuratordictatoractivatorinnovatorinstigatormater

Related words

crackedroughunsmoothcrocodilegatorcrocduckyhen

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "alligator"?▾

"Alligator" has 4 syllables: all · ig · at · or.

What is the IPA transcription of "alligator"?▾

The IPA transcription of "alligator" is /ˈæɫəˌɡeɪtɝ/.

What does "alligator" mean?▾

Alligator: Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator sinensis, in the genus Alligator within order Crocodilia, which have sharp teeth and very strong jaws and are native to the Americas and China, respectively.

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