How to pronounce language
Say it like LANG-gwuj. Language has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LANG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce language. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LANG
- gwuj
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Language pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LANGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- gwujKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of language
American and British speakers say language in essentially the same way: /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/ in the US and /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LANG-gwij.
What does language mean?
- a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols“he taught foreign languages”“the language introduced is standard throughout the text”
- (language) communication by word of mouth“his speech was garbled”“he uttered harsh language”
- the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number“his compositions always started with the lyrics”“he wrote both words and music”
Where does language come from?
From Middle English langage, language, from Old French language, from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum, from Latin lingua (“tongue, speech, language”), from Old Latin dingua (“tongue”), from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue, speech, language”).
Questions about saying language
How do you pronounce language?
Say LANG-gwuj. The American pronunciation is /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/. In British English it is /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in language?
Language has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LANG). Broken into parts: LANG · gwuj.
Do Americans and Brits say language the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/ and the British form is /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.