How to pronounce vow
Say it like VOW. Vow is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VOW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of vow
American and British speakers say vow in essentially the same way: /vaʊ/ in the US and /vaʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: VOW.
What does vow mean?
- make a vow; promise“He vowed never to drink alcohol again”
- dedicate to a deity by a vow
- a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner“they took vows of poverty”
Where does vow come from?
Inherited from Middle English vowe, voue, that from Old French vut, in turn from Latin vōtum (“a promise, dedication, vow”), from vovēre (“to promise, vow”).
Words that rhyme with vow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of vow.
Questions about saying vow
How do you pronounce vow?
Say VOW. The American pronunciation is /vaʊ/. In British English it is /vaʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vow?
Vow is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: VOW.
Do Americans and Brits say vow the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vaʊ/ and the British form is /vaʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.