How to pronounce oh
Say it like OH. Oh 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 oh. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oh pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of oh
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH.
What does oh mean?
- Expression of surprise.“Oh! I didn't see you there.”
- Expression of wonder, amazement, or awe.“Oh, wow! That's amazing.”
- Expression of understanding, affirmation, recognition, or realization.“Oh, so that's how it works.”
- An utterance of oh; a spoken expression of surprise, acknowledgement, etc.
- To utter the interjection oh; to express surprise, etc.
Where does oh come from?
Inherited from Middle English o.
Words that rhyme with oh
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oh.
Words that sound like oh
Questions about saying oh
How do you pronounce oh?
Say OH. The American pronunciation is /oʊ/. In British English it is /əʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oh?
Oh is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OH.
Is oh pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əʊ/ (OH).
What words sound the same as oh?
Oh sounds the same as owe in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.