How to pronounce cowslip
Say it like KOW-slip. Cowslip has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cowslip. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOW
- slip
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cowslip pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- slipKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of cowslip
American and British speakers say cowslip in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊslɪp/ in the US and /ˈkaʊslɪp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOW-slip.
What does cowslip mean?
- A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers.
- Primula deorum, a flowering plant known as God's cowslip and rila cowslip
- Primula florindae, a flowering plant known as giant cowslip and Tibetan cowslip
Where does cowslip come from?
From Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe (“cowslip”), from cū (“cow”) + slyppe (“paste, viscid substance”), related to Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide, move softly”).
Questions about saying cowslip
How do you pronounce cowslip?
Say KOW-slip. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊslɪp/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊslɪp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cowslip?
Cowslip has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW). Broken into parts: KOW · slip.
Do Americans and Brits say cowslip the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊslɪp/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊslɪp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.