How to pronounce slowworm
Say it like SLOH-wurm. Slowworm has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slowworm. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLOH
- wurm
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slowworm pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- wurmKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of slowworm
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SLOH-wurm.
What does slowworm mean?
- A small Old World lizard, Anguis fragilis, often mistaken for a snake, having no legs and small eyes.
Where does slowworm come from?
From Middle English sloworm (possibly influenced by slow), from Old English slāwyrm (“slow-worm, blindworm”), from *slā, related to Norwegian slo (“slow-worm”), Swedish slå (“slow-worm”) + wyrm (“worm, snake”).
Questions about saying slowworm
How do you pronounce slowworm?
Say SLOH-wurm. The American pronunciation is /ˈsloʊwɝm/. In British English it is /ˈsləʊwɜːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slowworm?
Slowworm has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLOH). Broken into parts: SLOH · wurm.
Is slowworm pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈsləʊwɜːm/ (SLOH-wurm).