How to pronounce unwieldy
Say it like un-WEEL-dee. Unwieldy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unwieldy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- WEEL
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unwieldy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- WEELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unwieldy
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4.
British respelling: uhn-WEE-ul-dee.
What does unwieldy mean?
- Difficult to carry, handle, manage or operate because of its size, weight, shape or complexity.
- Badly managed or operated.
Where does unwieldy come from?
From Middle English unweldy, equivalent to un- + wieldy.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying unwieldy
How do you pronounce unwieldy?
Say un-WEEL-dee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈwildi/. In British English it is /ˌʌnˈwiːəldi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unwieldy?
Unwieldy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEEL). Broken into parts: un · WEEL · dee.
Is unwieldy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4. The British form is /ˌʌnˈwiːəldi/ (uhn-WEE-ul-dee).