How to Pronounce Metaphor

To pronounce "metaphor", say MET-aph-or — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈmɛtəfɔɹ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

metaphor

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Accent

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Speed

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3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈmɛtəfɔɹ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/mˈɛtəfˌɔː/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “metaphor”

Break "metaphor" into 3 beats and lean on "MET" — that's the stressed one.

What does metaphor mean?

noun

  1. The use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it is not, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described (but in the case of English without the words like or as, since use of those words would imply a simile); the word or phrase used in this way; an implied comparison.
  2. The use of an everyday object or concept to represent an underlying facet of the computer and thus aid users in performing tasks.

    “desktop metaphor; wastebasket metaphor”

verb

  1. To use a metaphor.
  2. To describe by means of a metaphor.

Hear “metaphor” in real sentences

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

Related words

tralatitionanalogycomparisontranspositionimagepicturetransferborrowing

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "metaphor"?▾

"Metaphor" has 3 syllables: met · aph · or.

What is the IPA transcription of "metaphor"?▾

The IPA transcription of "metaphor" is /ˈmɛtəfɔɹ/.

What does "metaphor" mean?▾

Metaphor: The use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it is not, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described (but in the case of English without the words like or as, since use of those words would imply a simile); the word or phrase used in this way; an implied comparison.

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