How to pronounce underweight
Say it like UHN-der-wayt. Underweight 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 underweight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UHN
- der
- wayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Underweight 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.
- waytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of underweight
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: UHN-duh-wayt.
What does underweight mean?
- Of an inappropriately or unusually low weight.“He's so underweight he's had to buy smaller clothes.”
- Not too heavy for an intended purpose.“The suitcase is just slightly underweight; I'll let it on the plane.”
- Being less invested in a particular area than market wisdom suggests.“The fund is underweight in mining.”
- The state or quality of being underweight.
- An underweight person.
- An underweight investment.
- To underestimate the weight of.
- To give insufficient weight to (a consideration); to underestimate the importance of.
- To invest in less than conventional wisdom would dictate.
Where does underweight come from?
From under- + weight.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying underweight
How do you pronounce underweight?
Say UHN-der-wayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈʌndɚˌweɪt/. In British English it is /ˈʌndəˌweɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in underweight?
Underweight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHN). Broken into parts: UHN · der · wayt.
Is underweight 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 /ˈʌndəˌweɪt/ (UHN-duh-wayt).