How to pronounce fireweed
Say it like FY-er-weed. Fireweed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fireweed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FY
- er
- weed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fireweed pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- weedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of fireweed
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FY-uh-weed.
What does fireweed mean?
- A perennial herbaceous plant (Epilobium angustifolium or Chamaenerion angustifolium) in the willowherb family Onagraceae.
- Any of the flowering plants of the genus Erechtites.
Where does fireweed come from?
From fire + weed. The fire-part may be of same origin as eld-part in dialectal Norwegian Nynorsk eldmerke (“fireweed”).
Questions about saying fireweed
How do you pronounce fireweed?
Say FY-er-weed. The American pronunciation is /ˈfaɪɚˌwid/. In British English it is /ˈfaɪəˌwiːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fireweed?
Fireweed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FY). Broken into parts: FY · er · weed.
Is fireweed 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 /ˈfaɪəˌwiːd/ (FY-uh-weed).