How to pronounce forest
Say it like FOR-ust. Forest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce forest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOR
- ust
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Forest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- ustKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of forest
American and British speakers say forest in essentially the same way: /ˈfɔrəst/ in the US and /ˈfɒrɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: FOR-ist.
What does forest mean?
- the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
- land that is covered with trees and shrubs
- establish a forest on previously unforested land“afforest the mountains”
Where does forest come from?
In this sense, mostly displaced the native Middle English wode, from Old English wudu (modern English wood) and Middle English wald, wold, wæld, from Old English wald, weald (modern English wald, weald, wold).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying forest
How do you pronounce forest?
Say FOR-ust. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrəst/. In British English it is /ˈfɒrɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in forest?
Forest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · ust.
Do Americans and Brits say forest the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɔrəst/ and the British form is /ˈfɒrɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.