How to pronounce waterless
Say it like WAW-ter-lus. Waterless 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 waterless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waterless 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 relaxed "uh" in about.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of waterless
- 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-lus.
What does waterless mean?
- Dry, arid, lacking water.“The waterless desert can kill in many ways but dehydration is often fastest.”
- Not requiring water.“How does a waterless urinal have a drain trap?”
Where does waterless come from?
From Middle English waterles, waterlees, from Old English wæterlēas (“waterless”), from Proto-Germanic *watōrlausaz, equivalent to water + -less.
Questions about saying waterless
How do you pronounce waterless?
Say WAW-ter-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtərləs/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtələs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waterless?
Waterless has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · lus.
Is waterless 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 /ˈwɔːtələs/ (WAW-tuh-lus).