How to pronounce maneuver
Say it like muh-NOO-ver. Maneuver has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maneuver. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- NOO
- ver
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maneuver pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of maneuver
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: muh-NOO-vuh.
What does maneuver mean?
- a military training exercise
- a plan for attaining a particular goal
- a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill“he made a great maneuver”“the runner was out on a play by the shortstop”
- direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
- act in order to achieve a certain goal“He maneuvered to get the chairmanship”“She maneuvered herself into the directorship”
- perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
Where does maneuver come from?
From Middle French manœuvre (“manipulation, maneuver”) and manouvrer (“to maneuver”), from Old French manovre (“handwork, manual labor”), from Medieval Latin manopera, manuopera (“work done by hand, handwork”), from manu (“by hand”) + operari (“to work”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with maneuver
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of maneuver.
Words that sound like maneuver
Questions about saying maneuver
How do you pronounce maneuver?
Say muh-NOO-ver. The American pronunciation is /məˈnuvɚ/. In British English it is /məˈnuːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maneuver?
Maneuver has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOO). Broken into parts: muh · NOO · ver.
Is maneuver 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 /məˈnuːvə/ (muh-NOO-vuh).
What words sound the same as maneuver?
Maneuver sounds the same as manoeuvre in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.