How to pronounce onager
Say it like AH-nuh-jer. Onager has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce onager. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AH
- nuh
- jer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Onager pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- jerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of onager
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ON-uh-juh.
What does onager mean?
- The Asiatic wild ass or hemione (Equus hemionus), an animal of the horse family native to Asia; specifically, the Persian onager, Persian wild ass, or Persian zebra (Equus hemionus onager).
Where does onager come from?
The “military engine” sense alludes to the strong recoil of the engine, likened to an onager’s kick; see the 2007 quotation.
Questions about saying onager
How do you pronounce onager?
Say AH-nuh-jer. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑnədʒɚ/. In British English it is /ˈɒnədʒə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in onager?
Onager has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AH). Broken into parts: AH · nuh · jer.
Is onager 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 /ˈɒnədʒə/ (ON-uh-juh).