How to pronounce loanword
Say it like LOHN-wurd. Loanword has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce loanword. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOHN
- wurd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loanword pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- wurdGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of loanword
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: LOHN-wurd.
What does loanword mean?
- A word directly taken into one language from another one.“"Calque" is a loanword with French origins, and "loanword" is a calque with German origins.”
Where does loanword come from?
A calque of German Lehnwort, equivalent to loan + word.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying loanword
How do you pronounce loanword?
Say LOHN-wurd. The American pronunciation is /ˈloʊnˌwɝd/. In British English it is /ˈləʊnˌwɜːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loanword?
Loanword has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHN). Broken into parts: LOHN · wurd.
Is loanword pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈləʊnˌwɜːd/ (LOHN-wurd).