How to pronounce rowlock
Say it like ROH-lok. Rowlock has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rowlock. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROH
- lok
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rowlock pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- lokGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of rowlock
American and British speakers say rowlock in essentially the same way: /ˈroʊˌlɑk/ in the US and /ˈrʌlək/ in the UK.
British respelling: RUHL-uk.
What does rowlock mean?
- A usually U-shaped pivot attached to the gunwale (outrigger in a sport boat) of a boat that supports and guides an oar, and provides a fulcrum for rowing; an oarlock.
- A brick, for example in a course of brickwork, that is laid vertically with its tallest but slimmest side facing down, and its shortest face facing the outside of the wall (oriented so that it is taller than it is wide).
Where does rowlock come from?
An alteration, based on row, of earlier oarlock, from Old English ārlōc, equivalent to oar + lock.
Questions about saying rowlock
How do you pronounce rowlock?
Say ROH-lok. The American pronunciation is /ˈroʊˌlɑk/. In British English it is /ˈrʌlək/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rowlock?
Rowlock has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROH). Broken into parts: ROH · lok.
Do Americans and Brits say rowlock the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈroʊˌlɑk/ and the British form is /ˈrʌlək/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.