How to pronounce waltz
Say it like WAWLTS. Waltz is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- WAWLTS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waltz pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAWLTSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of waltz
American and British speakers say waltz in essentially the same way: /wɔlts/ in the US and /wɔːlts/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAWLTS.
What does waltz mean?
- A ballroom dance in 3/4 time.
- A piece of music for this dance (or in triple time).
- A simple task.
- To dance the waltz (with).“They waltzed for twenty-one hours and seventeen minutes straight, setting a record.”
- To move briskly and unhesitatingly, especially in an inappropriately casual manner, or when unannounced or uninvited.“He waltzed into the room like he owned the place.”
- To accomplish a task with little effort.“Don't worry about the interview, you'll waltz it.”
Where does waltz come from?
From German Walzer, from walzen (“to dance”), from Old High German walzan (“to turn”), from Proto-Germanic *walt- (“to turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- walk-in
- valse
- waltz around
Questions about saying waltz
How do you pronounce waltz?
Say WAWLTS. The American pronunciation is /wɔlts/. In British English it is /wɔːlts/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waltz?
Waltz is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WAWLTS.
Do Americans and Brits say waltz the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɔlts/ and the British form is /wɔːlts/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.