How to pronounce tower
Say it like TOW-er. Tower has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tower. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOW
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tower pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of tower
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TOW-uh.
What does tower mean?
- a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
- anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower“the test tube held a column of white powder”“a tower of dust rose above the horizon”
- a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships
- appear very large or occupy a commanding position“The huge sculpture predominates over the fountain”“Large shadows loomed on the canyon wall”
Where does tower come from?
Doublet of tor, tourelle, and turret.
Words that rhyme with tower
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tower.
Questions about saying tower
How do you pronounce tower?
Say TOW-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈtaʊɚ/. In British English it is /ˈtaʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tower?
Tower has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOW). Broken into parts: TOW · er.
Is tower 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 /ˈtaʊə/ (TOW-uh).