How to pronounce water
Say it like WAW-ter. Water has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce water. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Water pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of water
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: WAW-tuh.
What does water mean?
- binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
- the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean)“they invaded our territorial waters”“they were sitting by the water's edge”
- once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
- supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams“Water the fields”
- provide with water“We watered the buffalo”
- secrete or form water, as tears or saliva“My mouth watered at the prospect of a good dinner”“His eyes watered”
Words that rhyme with water
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of water.
Questions about saying water
How do you pronounce water?
Say WAW-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in water?
Water has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter.
Is water 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 /ˈwɔːtə/ (WAW-tuh).