How to pronounce avalanche
Say it like AV-uh-lanch. Avalanche has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce avalanche. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AV
- uh
- lanch
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Avalanche pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lanchGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of avalanche
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: AV-uh-lahnsh.
What does avalanche mean?
- A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
- A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
- A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx; anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity.
- To descend like an avalanche.
- To come down upon; to overwhelm.“The shelf broke and the boxes avalanched the workers.”
- To propel downward like an avalanche.
Where does avalanche come from?
From French avalanche, from Franco-Provençal (Savoy) avalançhe, blend of aval (“downhill”) and standard lavençhe, from Vulgar Latin *labanka (compare Occitan lavanca, Italian valanga), of uncertain origin, perhaps an alteration of Late Lati
Questions about saying avalanche
How do you pronounce avalanche?
Say AV-uh-lanch. The American pronunciation is /ˈævəˌlæntʃ/. In British English it is /ˈævəlɑːnʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in avalanche?
Avalanche has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AV). Broken into parts: AV · uh · lanch.
Is avalanche pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /ˈævəlɑːnʃ/ (AV-uh-lahnsh).