How to pronounce brownout
Say it like BROW-nowt. Brownout has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brownout. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BROW
- nowt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brownout pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BROWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- nowtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of brownout
American and British speakers say brownout in essentially the same way: /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/ in the US and /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/ in the UK.
British respelling: BROW-nowt.
What does brownout mean?
- A period of low alternating current line voltage, causing a reduction in illumination.“When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs.”
- A temporary dimming of vision, usually with a brown hue and accompanied by loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision.“On rising suddenly from her chair she experienced a brownout and had to sit down again quickly.”
- A temporary closing of a fire station, usually due to budget restrictions.“Fire departments across the country have been forced to rely on rolling brownouts because of the recession.”
Where does brownout come from?
A deverbal from brown out, by analogy with blackout.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying brownout
How do you pronounce brownout?
Say BROW-nowt. The American pronunciation is /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/. In British English it is /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brownout?
Brownout has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BROW). Broken into parts: BROW · nowt.
Do Americans and Brits say brownout the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/ and the British form is /ˈbraʊˌnaʊt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.