How to pronounce unwise
Say it like un-WYZE. Unwise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WYZE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unwise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- WYZE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unwise 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.
- WYZESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of unwise
American and British speakers say unwise in essentially the same way: /ənˈwaɪz/ in the US and /ənˈwaɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-WYZE.
What does unwise mean?
- Not wise; lacking wisdom“unwise man”
Where does unwise come from?
From Middle English unwis, from Old English unwīs (“unwise, foolish, ignorant, uninformed, insane”), equivalent to un- + wise.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with unwise
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unwise.
Questions about saying unwise
How do you pronounce unwise?
Say un-WYZE. The American pronunciation is /ənˈwaɪz/. In British English it is /ənˈwaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unwise?
Unwise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WYZE). Broken into parts: un · WYZE.
Do Americans and Brits say unwise the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈwaɪz/ and the British form is /ənˈwaɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.