2 syllables: Ho, tel. Stress on tel.
hoh-TEL
/hoʊˈtɛl/
Hotel is pronounced hoh-TEL (/hoʊˈtɛl/). It has two syllables (Ho-tel), with the stress on "tel". Hotel is a noun referring to a building offering lodging to travelers for short-term stays, typically with arranged rooms, reception, and services. It can also describe a place providing temporary accommodation or a specific lodging establishment in a city. Common usage centers on travel, reservations, and stay experiences; the term conveys hospitality, accommodation quality, and accessibility for visitors.
nounHotel is a noun referring to a building offering lodging to travelers for short-term stays, typically with arranged rooms, reception, and services. It can also describe a place providing temporary accommodation or a specific lodging establishment in a city. Common usage centers on travel, reservations, and stay experiences; the term conveys hospitality, accommodation quality, and accessibility for visitors.
How to Pronounce Hotel
"We checked into the hotel after a long flight."
"The hotel offers a continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi."
"He stayed at a boutique hotel near the river."
Standard pronunciation is /hoʊˈtɛl/ in US English and /ˈhəʊ.təl/ in UK English, with two syllables: HO-tel. In careful speech, place primary stress on the second syllable in US English: ho-TEL. Mouth positions: start with a closed front vowel /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, followed by a clear /t/ and a light /əl/ ending. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Forvo entries for hotel to hear regional variants.
Common errors: (1) Dropping the final /l/ or mispronouncing /l/ as a darkened [ɫ] without vocalization; (2) Misplacing stress, saying HO-tel instead of ho-TEL in US English; (3) Merging into a single syllable like 'hotl.' Corrections: emphasize two syllables with a clear /t/ followed by a light /əl/; practice with minimal pairs like 'hot' vs 'hotel' and use a slight pause before the second syllable if needed.
US: /hoʊˈtɛl/, two syllables with rising vowel on first syllable; UK: /ˈhəʊ.təl/ with two clear syllables and a schwa-like first vowel in many speakers; AU: /ˈhəʊ.tɛl/ or /ˈhɔː.tel/ depending on region, with less rhotics and a rounded /oʊ/ diphthong similar to UK. Differences include rhoticity (US rhotic, UK typically non-rhotic in many accents) and vowel quality of the first syllable.
Difficulties stem from two-syllable structure with a consonant cluster around /t/ and a distinct, often reduced second vowel /əl/. The first syllable vowel shifts from open-mid /oʊ/ to a diphthong; learners may struggle with final /l/ lightness, and with stress placement in US English. The combination of a diphthong and a liquid-ending /l/ requires precise tongue gliding and tongue-tip contact at /t/.
A notable feature is the two-syllable rhythm with a strong second syllable stress in US English, resulting in hos- TEL, with the /t/ as a crisp stop before a lightly pronounced /əl/. Some speakers may insert a weak vowel or syllabic /l/ variation; listening for a subtle schwa-like vowel in the second syllable in non-stressed contexts. IPA references aid accuracy: US /hoʊˈtɛl/, UK /ˈhəʊ.təl/.
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Hotel derives from the French word hotel, which in turn comes from the Old French hotele or hotele, meaning a pavilion, lodging, or place to take lodging. The term is believed to originate from the Latin ostārium (hostel, inn) and from hostis or hospes, related to guest, host, and hospitality. In medieval Europe, great houses and monasteries often offered shelter to travelers, and later inns and hospices specialized in lodging for merchants and travelers. By the 18th century, the word hotel began to appear in major European cities to designate larger lodging houses intended for paying guests, evolving from the sense of a public establishment offering staged accommodation. The concept spread with tourism and rail travel in the 19th century, leading to the modern hotel as a commercial, service-focused lodging facility with standardized rooms and amenities. The earliest English usage in the modern sense appeared in the 1770s; the 18th to 19th centuries saw rapid expansion of grand hotels in capital cities, reflecting changing travel patterns and the industrial era’s mobility.
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Help others use "Hotel" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hotel" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hotel" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hotel"
-tel sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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