How to pronounce halfway
Say it like haf-WAY. Halfway has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce halfway. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- haf
- WAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Halfway pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hafGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- WAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of halfway
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: hahf-WAY.
What does halfway mean?
- equally distant from the extremes
- at a point midway between two extremes“at the halfway mark”
- including only half or a portion“halfway measures”
- at half the distance; at the middle“he was halfway down the ladder when he fell”
Where does halfway come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian hoolfwais (“halfway”), Dutch halfweg (“halfway”), German halbwegs (“halfway”), Danish halvvejs (“halfway”), Swedish halvvägs (“halfway”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with halfway
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of halfway.
Questions about saying halfway
How do you pronounce halfway?
Say haf-WAY. The American pronunciation is /ˌhæfˈweɪ/. In British English it is /ˌhɑːfˈweɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in halfway?
Halfway has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAY). Broken into parts: haf · WAY.
Is halfway pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /ˌhɑːfˈweɪ/ (hahf-WAY).