How to pronounce snowball
Say it like SNOH-bawl. Snowball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SNOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce snowball. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SNOH
- bawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Snowball pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SNOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- bawlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of snowball
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SNOH-bawl.
What does snowball mean?
- A ball of snow, usually one made in the hand and thrown for amusement in a snowball fight; also a larger ball of snow made by rolling a snowball around in snow that sticks to it and increases its diameter.
- A cocktail made from lemonade and advocaat.
- Something that snowballs (grows rapidly out of control).
- To rapidly grow out of proportion or control, from an initially smaller state.“The high unemployment rates quickly snowballed into a major budget problem for the government.”
- To play at throwing snowballs.
- To pelt with snowballs; to throw snowballs at.
- Of something with rapid growth, often uncontrolled. Compare snowball effect.
Where does snowball come from?
From Middle English snoweball, snoweballe, snaweballe, snayballe, equivalent to snow + ball.
Questions about saying snowball
How do you pronounce snowball?
Say SNOH-bawl. The American pronunciation is /ˈsnoʊˌbɔl/. In British English it is /ˈsnəʊbɔːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in snowball?
Snowball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SNOH). Broken into parts: SNOH · bawl.
Is snowball 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 /ˈsnəʊbɔːl/ (SNOH-bawl).