How to pronounce dower
Say it like DOUR. Dower is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dower. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dower pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of dower
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DOUR.
What does dower mean?
- The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate.
- Property given by a groom to his bride or her family, at or before their wedding, in order to legitimize the marriage
- Alternative spelling of dougher.
- To give a dower or dowry to.
- To endow.
Where does dower come from?
From Middle English dower, dowere, from Old French doeire, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, from Latin dōs.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that sound like dower
Questions about saying dower
How do you pronounce dower?
Say DOUR. The American pronunciation is /daʊr/. In British English it is /daʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dower?
Dower is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DOUR.
Is dower 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 /daʊə/ (DOUR).
What words sound the same as dower?
Dower sounds the same as dour in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.