How to pronounce ou
Say it like OO. Ou 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 ou. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ou pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of ou
- American English uses 1 syllable and British English 2.
British respelling: OH-oo.
What does ou mean?
- A probably extinct species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, Psittirostra psittacea.
- A fellow, guy, bloke.
Where does ou come from?
From Hawaiian ʻōʻū.
Words that rhyme with ou
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ou.
Words that sound like ou
Questions about saying ou
How do you pronounce ou?
Say OO. The American pronunciation is /u/. In British English it is /ˈəʊuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ou?
Ou is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OO.
Is ou pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 1 syllable and British English 2. The British form is /ˈəʊuː/ (OH-oo).
What words sound the same as ou?
Ou sounds the same as ooh in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.