How to pronounce powwow
Say it like POW-wow. Powwow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce powwow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POW
- wow
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Powwow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- wowGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of powwow
American and British speakers say powwow in essentially the same way: /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/ in the US and /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: POW-wow.
What does powwow mean?
- A ritual conducted by a Native American shaman.
- A Native American shaman.
- A Native American council or meeting.
- To hold a meeting; to gather together in council.
- To conduct a ritual in which magic is used.
Where does powwow come from?
From an Eastern Algonquian language, probably Massachusett pauwau (“he uses divination; he practices magic or sorcery”) or Narragansett powwáw (“sorcerer, shaman”), ultimately from Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa (“one who dreams”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying powwow
How do you pronounce powwow?
Say POW-wow. The American pronunciation is /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/. In British English it is /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in powwow?
Powwow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POW). Broken into parts: POW · wow.
Do Americans and Brits say powwow the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/ and the British form is /ˈpaʊˌwaʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.