How to pronounce northwest
Say it like nor-THWEST. Northwest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (THWEST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce northwest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nor
- THWEST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Northwest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- norGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- THWESTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of northwest
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: naw-THWEST.
What does northwest mean?
- the northwestern region of the United States
- the direction corresponding to the northwestward compass point
- the compass point midway between north and west; at 315 degrees
- situated in or oriented toward the northwest
- coming from the northwest“northwesterly winds”
- to, toward, or in the northwest
Where does northwest come from?
From Middle English northwest, from Old English norþwest, equivalent to north + west.
Words that rhyme with northwest
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of northwest.
Questions about saying northwest
How do you pronounce northwest?
Say nor-THWEST. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɔrˈθwɛst/. In British English it is /ˌnɔːˈθwɛst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in northwest?
Northwest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (THWEST). Broken into parts: nor · THWEST.
Is northwest 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 /ˌnɔːˈθwɛst/ (naw-THWEST).