How to pronounce fallout
Say it like FAW-lowt. Fallout has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAW).
- FAW
- lowt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fallout pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- lowtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of fallout
American and British speakers say fallout in essentially the same way: /ˈfɔˌlaʊt/ in the US and /ˈfɔːlaʊt/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAW-lowt.
What does fallout mean?
- The event of small airborne particles falling to the ground in significant quantities as a result of major industrial activity, volcano eruption, sandstorm, nuclear explosion, etc.
- The particles themselves.
- A negative side effect; an undesirable or unexpected consequence.“Psychological fallout in the shadow of terrorism”
Where does fallout come from?
Deverbal from fall out; fall + out.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- blowback
- repercussions
- radioactive dust
- side effect
Questions about saying fallout
How do you pronounce fallout?
Say FAW-lowt. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔˌlaʊt/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːlaʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fallout?
Fallout has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAW). Broken into parts: FAW · lowt.
Do Americans and Brits say fallout the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɔˌlaʊt/ and the British form is /ˈfɔːlaʊt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.