How to pronounce rainbow
Say it like RAYN-boh. Rainbow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rainbow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAYN
- boh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rainbow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- bohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of rainbow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: RAYN-boh.
What does rainbow mean?
- an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain
- an illusory hope“chasing rainbows”
Where does rainbow come from?
From Middle English reynbowe, raynbowe, from Old English reġnboga (“rainbow”), from Proto-West Germanic *regnabogō, from Proto-Germanic *regnabugô (“rainbow”), equivalent to rain + bow (“arch”).
Questions about saying rainbow
How do you pronounce rainbow?
Say RAYN-boh. The American pronunciation is /ˈreɪnˌboʊ/. In British English it is /ˈreɪnˌbəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rainbow?
Rainbow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAYN). Broken into parts: RAYN · boh.
Is rainbow 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 /ˈreɪnˌbəʊ/ (RAYN-boh).