How to pronounce hoosegow
Say it like HOOS-gow. Hoosegow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hoosegow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOOS
- gow
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hoosegow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- gowKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of hoosegow
American and British speakers say hoosegow in essentially the same way: /ˈhusɡaʊ/ in the US and /ˈhuːsɡaʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: HOOS-gow.
What does hoosegow mean?
- A jail.
Where does hoosegow come from?
From informal spoken Spanish juzgao, variant of standard Spanish juzgado (“court, courthouse”).
Questions about saying hoosegow
How do you pronounce hoosegow?
Say HOOS-gow. The American pronunciation is /ˈhusɡaʊ/. In British English it is /ˈhuːsɡaʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hoosegow?
Hoosegow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOOS). Broken into parts: HOOS · gow.
Do Americans and Brits say hoosegow the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhusɡaʊ/ and the British form is /ˈhuːsɡaʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.