How to pronounce paw
Say it like PAW. Paw 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 paw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Paw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of paw
American and British speakers say paw in essentially the same way: /pɔ/ in the US and /pɔː/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAW.
What does paw mean?
- Of an animal, to dig through (something, such as a garbage can) with paws.
- Of an animal, to draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
- To touch (someone) in a sexual way.
- The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
- A hand.“Get your grubby paws off my things!”
- Alternative form of pa (“father”).
Where does paw come from?
Cognate with Dutch poot, poten (“to plant”), Low German Pote, German Pfote, Icelandic pota (“to stick”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with paw
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of paw.
Questions about saying paw
How do you pronounce paw?
Say PAW. The American pronunciation is /pɔ/. In British English it is /pɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in paw?
Paw is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAW.
Do Americans and Brits say paw the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɔ/ and the British form is /pɔː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.