How to pronounce headlong
Say it like HED-lawng. Headlong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce headlong. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HED
- lawng
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Headlong pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- lawngKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of headlong
American and British speakers say headlong in essentially the same way: /ˈhɛdlɔŋ/ in the US and /ˈhɛdlɒŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: HED-long.
What does headlong mean?
- With the head first or down.
- With an unrestrained forward motion.“Figures out today show the economy plunging headlong into recession.”
- Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation; in haste, hastily.
- Precipitous.
- Plunging downwards head foremost.
- Rushing forward without restraint.
- To precipitate.
Where does headlong come from?
From Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), assimilated to long.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying headlong
How do you pronounce headlong?
Say HED-lawng. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛdlɔŋ/. In British English it is /ˈhɛdlɒŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in headlong?
Headlong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HED). Broken into parts: HED · lawng.
Do Americans and Brits say headlong the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɛdlɔŋ/ and the British form is /ˈhɛdlɒŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.