How to pronounce wager
Say it like WAY-jer. Wager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wager. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAY
- jer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wager pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- jerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of wager
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WAY-juh.
What does wager mean?
- A bet; a stake; a pledge.
- The subject of a bet.
- A contract by which two parties or more agree that a certain sum of money, or other thing, shall be paid or delivered to one of them, on the happening or not happening of an uncertain event.
- Agent noun of wage; one who wages. How to pronounce wage
- To bet something; to put it up as collateral.“I'd wager my boots on it.”
- To suppose; to dare say.“I'll wager that Johnson knows something about all this.”
Where does wager come from?
From Middle English wajour, wageour, wager, from Old Northern French wageure, from wagier (“to pledge”) (compare Old French guagier, whence modern French gager and contemporary Walloon wadjî), ultimately from Frankish *waddjōn (“to pledge”)
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wager
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wager.
Questions about saying wager
How do you pronounce wager?
Say WAY-jer. The American pronunciation is /ˈweɪdʒɚ/. In British English it is /ˈweɪdʒə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wager?
Wager has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAY). Broken into parts: WAY · jer.
Is wager pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈweɪdʒə/ (WAY-juh).