How to pronounce lower
Say it like LOH-er. Lower has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lower. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lower pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of lower
- 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: LOH-uh.
What does lower mean?
- move something or somebody to a lower position“take down the vase from the shelf”
- set lower“lower a rating”“lower expectations”
- make lower or quieter“turn down the volume of a radio”
- the lower of two berths
Where does lower come from?
From low + -er (comparative suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lower
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lower.
Questions about saying lower
How do you pronounce lower?
Say LOH-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈloʊɚ/. In British English it is /ˈləʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lower?
Lower has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOH). Broken into parts: LOH · er.
Is lower 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 /ˈləʊə/ (LOH-uh).