How to pronounce value
Say it like VAL-yoo. Value has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce value. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VAL
- yoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Value pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of value
American and British speakers say value in essentially the same way: /ˈvælju/ in the US and /ˈvæljuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: VAL-yoo.
What does value mean?
- a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed“the value assigned was 16 milliseconds”
- the quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable“the Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world”
- the amount (of money or goods or services) that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else“he tried to estimate the value of the produce at normal prices”
- fix or determine the value of; assign a value to“value the jewelry and art work in the estate”
- hold dear“I prize these old photographs”
- regard highly; think much of“I respect his judgement”“We prize his creativity”
Where does value come from?
From Middle English valew, value, from Old French value, feminine past participle of valoir, from Latin valēre (“be strong, be worth”), from Proto-Italic *walēō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”).
Questions about saying value
How do you pronounce value?
Say VAL-yoo. The American pronunciation is /ˈvælju/. In British English it is /ˈvæljuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in value?
Value has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VAL). Broken into parts: VAL · yoo.
Do Americans and Brits say value the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvælju/ and the British form is /ˈvæljuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.