How to pronounce dolour
Say it like DOH-ler. Dolour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dolour. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOH
- ler
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dolour pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- lerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of dolour
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DOL-uh.
What does dolour mean?
- Anguish, grief, misery, or sorrow.
- In economics and utilitarianism: a unit of pain used to theoretically weigh people's outcomes.
Where does dolour come from?
From Middle English dolour (“physical pain, agony, suffering; painful disease; anguish, grief, misery, sorrow; grieving for sins, contrition; hardship, misery, trouble; cause of grief or suffering, affliction”) [and other forms], from Anglo
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with dolour
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dolour.
Questions about saying dolour
How do you pronounce dolour?
Say DOH-ler. The American pronunciation is /ˈdoʊlɚ/. In British English it is /ˈdɒlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dolour?
Dolour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOH). Broken into parts: DOH · ler.
Is dolour 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 /ˈdɒlə/ (DOL-uh).