How to pronounce waterfall
Say it like WAW-ter-fawl. Waterfall has three 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 waterfall. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- fawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waterfall 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.
- fawlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of waterfall
- 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-fawl.
What does waterfall mean?
- a steep descent of the water of a river
Where does waterfall come from?
From Middle English waterfal, waterfalle, from Old English wæterġefeall (“waterfall”), equivalent to water + fall.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying waterfall
How do you pronounce waterfall?
Say WAW-ter-fawl. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚˌfɔl/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtəfɔːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waterfall?
Waterfall has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · fawl.
Is waterfall 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 /ˈwɔːtəfɔːl/ (WAW-tuh-fawl).