How to pronounce clerihew
Say it like KLER-ih-hyoo. Clerihew has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KLER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce clerihew. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLER
- ih
- hyoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Clerihew pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- hyooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of clerihew
American and British speakers say clerihew in essentially the same way: /ˈklɛrɪˌhju/ in the US and /ˈklɛrɪˌhjuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLER-ih-hyoo.
What does clerihew mean?
- A humorous rhyme of four lines with the rhyming scheme AABB, usually regarding a person mentioned in the first line.
Where does clerihew come from?
Named after English humorist and novelist Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875–1956), who invented the rhyme.
Questions about saying clerihew
How do you pronounce clerihew?
Say KLER-ih-hyoo. The American pronunciation is /ˈklɛrɪˌhju/. In British English it is /ˈklɛrɪˌhjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in clerihew?
Clerihew has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KLER). Broken into parts: KLER · ih · hyoo.
Do Americans and Brits say clerihew the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈklɛrɪˌhju/ and the British form is /ˈklɛrɪˌhjuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.