How to pronounce dreadnought
Say it like DRED-nawt. Dreadnought has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dreadnought. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRED
- nawt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dreadnought pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DREDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- nawtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of dreadnought
American and British speakers say dreadnought in essentially the same way: /ˈdrɛdnɔt/ in the US and /ˈdrɛdnɔːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRED-nawt.
What does dreadnought mean?
- One that is the largest or the most powerful of its kind.
- A type of acoustic guitar with a very large body and a waist that is less pronounced than on other guitar shapes, producing a deep, bold sound.
- A garment made of thick woollen cloth that can defend against storm and cold.
- One that fears nothing.
- Something that assures against fear.
Where does dreadnought come from?
Named after HMS Dreadnought, the first battleship finished of this type, itself named for Etymology 2.
Questions about saying dreadnought
How do you pronounce dreadnought?
Say DRED-nawt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdrɛdnɔt/. In British English it is /ˈdrɛdnɔːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dreadnought?
Dreadnought has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRED). Broken into parts: DRED · nawt.
Do Americans and Brits say dreadnought the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdrɛdnɔt/ and the British form is /ˈdrɛdnɔːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.