How to pronounce laowai
Say it like low-WY. Laowai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce laowai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- low
- WY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Laowai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- lowKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- WYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of laowai
American and British speakers say laowai in essentially the same way: /laʊˈwaɪ/ in the US and /laʊˈwaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: low-WY.
What does laowai mean?
- A foreigner in mainland China or Taiwan, (particularly) a Western one.
Words that rhyme with laowai
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of laowai.
Questions about saying laowai
How do you pronounce laowai?
Say low-WY. The American pronunciation is /laʊˈwaɪ/. In British English it is /laʊˈwaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in laowai?
Laowai has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WY). Broken into parts: low · WY.
Do Americans and Brits say laowai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /laʊˈwaɪ/ and the British form is /laʊˈwaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.