How to pronounce helluva
Say it like hel-OO-vuh. Helluva has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce helluva. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hel
- OO
- vuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Helluva pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- helGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- OOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of helluva
American and British speakers say helluva in essentially the same way: /ˌhɛˈluvə/ in the US and /ˌhɛˈluːvə/ in the UK.
British respelling: hel-OO-vuh.
What does helluva mean?
- (A) hell of a; extreme.“They had a helluva row over where to spend the weekend.”
- ; (expletive) (A) hell of a; extremely or very.“We had a helluva good time at the party.”
Where does helluva come from?
Written form of a reduction (relaxed pronunciation) of hell of a.
Questions about saying helluva
How do you pronounce helluva?
Say hel-OO-vuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌhɛˈluvə/. In British English it is /ˌhɛˈluːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in helluva?
Helluva has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO). Broken into parts: hel · OO · vuh.
Do Americans and Brits say helluva the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌhɛˈluvə/ and the British form is /ˌhɛˈluːvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.