How to pronounce uvula
Say it like YOO-vyuh-luh. Uvula has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce uvula. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YOO
- vyuh
- luh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Uvula pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- vyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of uvula
American and British speakers say uvula in essentially the same way: /ˈjuvjələ/ in the US and /ˈjuːvjʊlə/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOO-vyuu-luh.
What does uvula mean?
- the slight elevation in the mucous membrane immediately behind the internal urethral orifice of the urinary bladder, caused by the middle lobe of the prostate
- an object so suspended inside a bell that it may hit the bell and cause it to ring; a clapper
Where does uvula come from?
Borrowed from Late Latin ūvula, diminutive of ūva (“grape”).
Questions about saying uvula
How do you pronounce uvula?
Say YOO-vyuh-luh. The American pronunciation is /ˈjuvjələ/. In British English it is /ˈjuːvjʊlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in uvula?
Uvula has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO). Broken into parts: YOO · vyuh · luh.
Do Americans and Brits say uvula the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjuvjələ/ and the British form is /ˈjuːvjʊlə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.