How to pronounce dowager
Say it like DOW-jer. Dowager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dowager. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOW
- jer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dowager pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- jerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of dowager
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DOW-juh.
What does dowager mean?
- A widow holding property or title derived from her late husband.“A reclusive dowager owned the pastures across the river, and her farmhands ran beef cattle on them.”
- The widow of the holder of a title (usually a member of the peerage or a baronet); used in combination with the title she held during her husband's lifetime.“the Earl and Countess of Whiteacre, and the Earl's mother, the dowager Countess of Whiteacre”
- Any lady of dignified bearing, especially an older one.“A stately dowager entered the ballroom, and all eyes were upon her.”
Where does dowager come from?
From Middle French douagere, douagiere, from douage (“dower”), from the verb douer (“to endow”), from Latin dōtō (“to endow”), from dōs (“dowry”).
Questions about saying dowager
How do you pronounce dowager?
Say DOW-jer. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaʊdʒɚ/. In British English it is /ˈdaʊdʒə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dowager?
Dowager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOW). Broken into parts: DOW · jer.
Is dowager 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 /ˈdaʊdʒə/ (DOW-juh).