How to pronounce nowhere
Say it like NOH-wair. Nowhere has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nowhere. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NOH
- wair
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nowhere pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- wairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of nowhere
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: NOH-wair.
What does nowhere mean?
- an insignificant place“he came out of nowhere”
- not anywhere; in or at or to no place“I am going nowhere”
Where does nowhere come from?
Adjective usage is taken from phrases like nowhere on the map (signifying the location was too small or too insignificant to be listed), nowhere you want to be, etc.
Questions about saying nowhere
How do you pronounce nowhere?
Say NOH-wair. The American pronunciation is /ˈnoʊˌwɛr/. In British English it is /ˈnəʊˌwɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nowhere?
Nowhere has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOH). Broken into parts: NOH · wair.
Is nowhere 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 /ˈnəʊˌwɛə/ (NOH-wair).