How to pronounce walrus
Say it like WAHL-rus. Walrus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce walrus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAHL
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Walrus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of walrus
American and British speakers say walrus in essentially the same way: /ˈwɑlrəs/ in the US and /ˈwɔːlrəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAWL-rus.
What does walrus mean?
- A large Arctic pinniped having long tusks, tough, wrinkled skin, and four flippers, Odobenus rosmarus.
- To hunt walruses
- To move dragging one's belly along the floor
- To hang like a walrus's moustache
Where does walrus come from?
Probably borrowed from Dutch walrus, a compound of wal (“whale”) and ros (“horse”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- morse
- seahorse
Questions about saying walrus
How do you pronounce walrus?
Say WAHL-rus. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɑlrəs/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːlrəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in walrus?
Walrus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAHL). Broken into parts: WAHL · rus.
Do Americans and Brits say walrus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɑlrəs/ and the British form is /ˈwɔːlrəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.