How to pronounce Warsaw
Say it like WOR-saw. Warsaw has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Warsaw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WOR
- saw
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Warsaw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- sawGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of Warsaw
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WAW-saw.
What does Warsaw mean?
- the capital and largest city of Poland; located in central Poland
Where does Warsaw come from?
Probably a corruption of Spanish guasa or mero guasa (“Atlantic goliath grouper”), which may be from Old Tupi guaçu (“large”).
Questions about saying Warsaw
How do you pronounce Warsaw?
Say WOR-saw. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔrˌsɔ/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːsɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Warsaw?
Warsaw has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WOR). Broken into parts: WOR · saw.
Is Warsaw 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 /ˈwɔːsɔː/ (WAW-saw).