How to pronounce bellwether
Say it like BEL-weth-er. Bellwether has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEL).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈbɛlˌwɛðɚ/BEL-weth-er
UK British/ˈbɛlwɛðə/BEL-weth-uh
- BEL
- weth
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bellwether pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- wethGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of bellwether
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BEL-weth-uh.
What does bellwether mean?
noun
- The leading sheep of a flock, having a bell hung round its neck.
- Anything that indicates future trends.“Mortgage delinquencies often act as a bellwether for a forthcoming recession.”
- A stock whose price performance is treated as an indicator of the likely direction of a broader market, sector, or industry.
Where does bellwether come from?
From Middle English belwether, belleweder, equivalent to bell + wether (“castrated ram”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bellwether
How do you pronounce bellwether?
Say BEL-weth-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɛlˌwɛðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbɛlwɛðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bellwether?
Bellwether has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEL). Broken into parts: BEL · weth · er.
Is bellwether pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɛlwɛðə/ (BEL-weth-uh).