How to pronounce midwife
Say it like MID-wyfe. Midwife has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce midwife. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MID
- wyfe
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Midwife pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MIDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- wyfeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of midwife
American and British speakers say midwife in essentially the same way: /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/ in the US and /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: MID-wyfe.
What does midwife mean?
- A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth, but who is not a physician.“A hundred years ago, a midwife would bring the baby into the world - going to a hospital to deliver a baby was either impossible or unheard of.”
- Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.
- To act as a midwife.
- To facilitate the emergence of.
Where does midwife come from?
From Middle English midwif, corresponding to mid (“with”) + wif (“woman, wife, female”).
Questions about saying midwife
How do you pronounce midwife?
Say MID-wyfe. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/. In British English it is /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in midwife?
Midwife has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MID). Broken into parts: MID · wyfe.
Do Americans and Brits say midwife the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/ and the British form is /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.