How to pronounce childhood
Say it like CHYLD-huud. Childhood has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHYLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce childhood. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHYLD
- huud
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Childhood pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHYLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- huudGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of childhood
American and British speakers say childhood in essentially the same way: /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/ in the US and /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHYLD-huud.
What does childhood mean?
- the time of person's life when they are a child
- the state of a child between infancy and adolescence
Where does childhood come from?
From Middle English childhode, childhod, from Old English ċildhād (“childhood”).
Questions about saying childhood
How do you pronounce childhood?
Say CHYLD-huud. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/. In British English it is /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in childhood?
Childhood has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHYLD). Broken into parts: CHYLD · huud.
Do Americans and Brits say childhood the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/ and the British form is /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.