How to pronounce Delaware
Say it like DEL-uh-wair. Delaware has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Delaware. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEL
- uh
- wair
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Delaware pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- wairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of Delaware
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DEL-uh-wair.
What does Delaware mean?
- A river flowing from the Catskills through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware in the northeastern United States and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Delaware Bay.
- The first state of the United States. Capital: Dover. Largest city: Wilmington.
- A river in the United States that flows from northeast Kansas into the Kansas River.
Where does Delaware come from?
The river in the northeastern United States was named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618).
Questions about saying Delaware
How do you pronounce Delaware?
Say DEL-uh-wair. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛləˌwɛr/. In British English it is /ˈdɛləˌwɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Delaware?
Delaware has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL). Broken into parts: DEL · uh · wair.
Is Delaware 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 /ˈdɛləˌwɛə/ (DEL-uh-wair).