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

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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.

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.
  2. A crocodilian of the subfamily Alligatorinae.

verb

  1. To crack in a pattern resembling an alligator's skin.

interjection

  1. Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which the speaker counts out loud, saying the word "alligator" between the numbers so that each number is spoken approximately one second after the last one.

Keep practicing

Related pages on PronounceIt, chosen from what we know about this word.

Train the contrast: light vs right

Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/r/ — r/l/ — l/ə/ — schwa

Read next: How to Read IPA: The Phonetic Alphabet Made Simple

Frequently asked questions

How do you 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.

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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