How to pronounce nous
Say it like NOOS. Nous is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NOOS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of nous
American and British speakers say nous in essentially the same way: /nus/ in the US and /naʊs/ in the UK.
British respelling: NOWS.
What does nous mean?
- The mind or intellect, faculty for rationality or reason using the necessary common sense or awareness.
- The divine reason, regarded as first divine emanation.
- Common sense; practical intelligence.“to demonstrate nous”
Words that rhyme with nous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nous.
Words that sound like nous
Questions about saying nous
How do you pronounce nous?
Say NOOS. The American pronunciation is /nus/. In British English it is /naʊs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nous?
Nous is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NOOS.
Do Americans and Brits say nous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nus/ and the British form is /naʊs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as nous?
Nous sounds the same as noose in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.