How to pronounce northwestern
Say it like north-WES-tern. Northwestern has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce northwestern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- north
- WES
- tern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Northwestern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- northGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- WESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ternKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of northwestern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: nawth-WES-tun.
What does northwestern mean?
- situated in or oriented toward the northwest
- of a region of the United States generally including Washington; Oregon; Idaho; and sometimes Montana; Wyoming
Where does northwestern come from?
Probably the reflex of Old English *norþwesterne, equivalent to north + western, cognate with or formed similarly to Middle Low German nōrtwestern and Old High German nordwestrōni.
Words that rhyme with northwestern
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of northwestern.
Questions about saying northwestern
How do you pronounce northwestern?
Say north-WES-tern. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɔrθˈwɛstɚn/. In British English it is /nɔːθˈwɛstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in northwestern?
Northwestern has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WES). Broken into parts: north · WES · tern.
Is northwestern 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 /nɔːθˈwɛstən/ (nawth-WES-tun).