How to pronounce old
Say it like OHLD. Old is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- OHLD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Old pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of old
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OHLD.
What does old mean?
- (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age“his mother is very old”“a ripe old age”
- of long duration; not new“old tradition”“old house”
- (used for emphasis) very familiar“good old boy”“same old story”
- past times (especially in the phrase `in days of old')
Where does old come from?
Cognate with Scots aald, auld (“old”), Yola yola, yolaw, yold, yole (“old”), North Frisian ool, ual, uuil, uul, üülj (“old”), Saterland Frisian oold (“old”), West Frisian âld (“old”), Alemannic German altu, oalt, oalts, olt, àltà (“old”), B
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with old
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of old.
Words that sound like old
- olde
Questions about saying old
How do you pronounce old?
Say OHLD. The American pronunciation is /oʊld/. In British English it is /əʊld/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in old?
Old is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OHLD.
Is old 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 /əʊld/ (OHLD).
What words sound the same as old?
Old sounds the same as olde in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.