How to pronounce narrow
Say it like NER-oh. Narrow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce narrow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NER
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Narrow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of narrow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: NAR-oh.
Other ways to say narrow
Narrow also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- NAR-oh /ˈnæroʊ/
What does narrow mean?
- make or become more narrow or restricted“The selection was narrowed”“The road narrowed”
- define clearly“I cannot narrow down the rules for this game”
- become more focused on an area of activity or field of study“She specializes in Near Eastern history”
- not wide“a narrow bridge”“a narrow line across the page”
- limited in size or scope“the narrow sense of a word”
- lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view“a brilliant but narrow-minded judge”“narrow opinions”
- a narrow strait connecting two bodies of water
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with narrow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of narrow.
Questions about saying narrow
How do you pronounce narrow?
Say NER-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɛroʊ/. In British English it is /ˈnærəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in narrow?
Narrow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NER). Broken into parts: NER · oh.
Is narrow pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈnærəʊ/ (NAR-oh).