How to pronounce shadow
Say it like SHAD-oh. Shadow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shadow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHAD
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shadow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHADSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of shadow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SHAD-oh.
What does shadow mean?
- shade within clear boundaries
- an unilluminated area“he moved off into the darkness”
- something existing in perception only“a ghostly apparition at midnight”
- follow, usually without the person's knowledge“The police are shadowing her”
- cast a shadow over
- make appear small by comparison“This year's debt dwarfs that of last year”
Where does shadow come from?
Cognate with Scots shedda (“shadow”), Saterland Frisian Skaad, Skade (“shade, shadow”), West Frisian skaad, skâd (“shade, shadow”), Central Franconian and Limburgish Schatte (“shadow”), Dutch schade, schaduw (“shadow”), German Schatten (“sh
Questions about saying shadow
How do you pronounce shadow?
Say SHAD-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃæˌdoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈʃæˌdəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shadow?
Shadow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAD). Broken into parts: SHAD · oh.
Is shadow 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 /ˈʃæˌdəʊ/ (SHAD-oh).