How to pronounce netherworld
Say it like NETH-er-wurld. Netherworld has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce netherworld. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NETH
- er
- wurld
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Netherworld pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- wurldGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of netherworld
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NETH-uh-wurld.
What does netherworld mean?
- The place to which one's spirit descends upon death, conceived as below the surface of the earth.“In some religions, one's soul departs to a netherworld, instead of the heavens.”
- The locale of the spirit world or afterlife, whether deemed to be situated below the world of the living or not.“While I was astrally projecting, I felt my soul pass through many insubstantial netherworlds.”
- Specifically, a location of punishment in the afterlife; a hell.“The missionary was motivated by a sincere desire to rescue souls from eternal torment in the netherworld.”
Where does netherworld come from?
From nether- (“beneath, lower”) + world.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying netherworld
How do you pronounce netherworld?
Say NETH-er-wurld. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɛðɚˌwɝld/. In British English it is /ˈnɛðəˌwɜːld/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in netherworld?
Netherworld has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NETH). Broken into parts: NETH · er · wurld.
Is netherworld 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 /ˈnɛðəˌwɜːld/ (NETH-uh-wurld).