3 syllables: Re, mote Con, trol. Stress on mote Con.
rim-oht-kuhn-TROHL
/rɪˈmoʊt kənˈtroʊl/
Remote Control is pronounced rim-oht-kuhn-TROHL (/rɪˈmoʊt kənˈtroʊl/). It has three syllables (Re-mote Con-trol), with the stress on "mote Con". As a noun, a noun referring to a handheld device used to wirelessly operate a television or other electronic equipment. The term combines the adjective remote (far away) with control (the act of directing). In everyday use, it denotes the device itself as well as the apparatus that controls devices from a distance.
nounA noun referring to a handheld device used to wirelessly operate a television or other electronic equipment. The term combines the adjective remote (far away) with control (the act of directing). In everyday use, it denotes the device itself as well as the apparatus that controls devices from a distance.
How to Pronounce Remote Control
"I can’t find the remote control; could you grab it from the couch?"
"The TV’s remote control needs new batteries."
"With the universal remote control, you can switch between devices easily."
Pronounce as two syllables per word: /rɪˈmoʊt/ for remote and /kənˈtroʊl/ for control in US; UK /rɪˈməʊt/ and /kənˈtrəʊl/; AU often /ˈriːmoʊt/ and /kənˈtrəʊl/. Primary stress falls on the second syllable of remote and on the second syllable of control, yielding ri-MOте con-TROL (US). Keep a clear boundary between the two words, with a light vowel reduction in the first syllable if natural.
Common errors include merging the two words into one, saying /rɛmoʊt/ or /riːmoʊt/ with unclear boundary, and flattening the control as /kənˈtɚl/ or /kənˈtrɔl/. Correct by emphasizing the stress on remote’s second syllable and control’s second syllable, and by inserting a brief, audible boundary between words. Practice with a slight pause and ensure the /t/ at the end of remote is crisp before starting control.
In US English you hear /rɪˈmoʊt kənˈtroʊl/ with rhoticity; UK often /rɪˈməʊt kənˈtrəʊl/ with less aggressive r-coloring and a longer /əʊ/ in remote; Australian /ˈriːmɒt kənˈtrəʊl/ or /ˈriːmoʊt/ with more clipped final vowels. Vowel quality in remote and control shifts: US diphthongs are tighter; UK uses a closer to /əʊ/ in remote’s second vowel; AU may lengthen vowels and influence /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/ in certain contexts.
The difficulty lies in the two-stressed two-syllable words back-to-back, with subtle vowel shifts and the need for a crisp boundary between them. Remote’s /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide must be distinct from control’s final /oʊl/. Non-native dancers of English often blend /kən/ and /troʊl/ or misplace stress, making the phrase sound like a single word. Practicing with spacing and precise timing helps.
Is there a silent letter in 'remote'? No silent letters; all letters are pronounced, though the final /t/ is lightly released in quick speech. The word’s rhythm emphasizes the second syllable of remote and control, so you should not reduce those stresses. In normal conversation, you’ll often hear a nearly vowel-reduced first syllable in remote, but keep the /t/ audible for clarity.
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Remote control is a compound English noun formed from two elements: remote, borrowed from French remotely via Old French remot, which itself comes from late Latin remotus (set apart, distant) from re- (back, again) + motus (moved). Control traces to Latin controlare, from contra (against) + rotulus (roll, roll of paper) and into Old French controle before entering English in the medieval period. The modern sense — a device to steer machines from a distance — emerged in the 20th century with the rise of radio and infrared technology. The phrase remote control became common in the 1950s as consumer electronics enabled wireless operation; the first widely used television remote controls were wired or ultrasonic, with infrared remotes becoming dominant from the 1980s onward. The term has since broadened to include any hand-held device enabling wireless manipulation of equipment, not just televisions, and has become a staple in electronics vernacular. First documented uses appear in technical manuals and product catalogs in the mid-20th century, steadily cementing “remote control” in everyday language through media, advertising, and user guides.
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Words that rhyme with "Remote Control"
-oat sounds
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