How to pronounce underwear
Say it like UHN-der-wair. Underwear has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce underwear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UHN
- der
- wair
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Underwear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- UHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- wairGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of underwear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UHN-duh-wair.
What does underwear mean?
- undergarment worn next to the skin and under the outer garments
Where does underwear come from?
From under- + -wear. Compare Dutch ondergoed, German Unterwäsche, Swedish underkläder.
Questions about saying underwear
How do you pronounce underwear?
Say UHN-der-wair. The American pronunciation is /ˈʌndɚˌwɛr/. In British English it is /ˈʌndəˌwɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in underwear?
Underwear has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHN). Broken into parts: UHN · der · wair.
Is underwear 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 /ˈʌndəˌwɛə/ (UHN-duh-wair).