How to pronounce Waterloo
Say it like WAW-ter-loo. Waterloo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈwɔtɚˌlu/WAW-ter-loo
UK British/ˌwɔːtəˈluː/waw-tuh-LOO
- WAW
- ter
- loo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waterloo 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.
- looGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of Waterloo
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3.
- 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-LOO.
What does Waterloo mean?
proper noun
- A village in Walloon Brabant, Belgium; the site of a major military battle in 1815.
- A rural community of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
- A regional municipality and city in Ontario, Canada.
Where does Waterloo come from?
From Middle Dutch, composed of water (“water”) + loo (“sacred wood, forest”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- battle of waterloo
Questions about saying Waterloo
How do you pronounce Waterloo?
Say WAW-ter-loo. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚˌlu/. In British English it is /ˌwɔːtəˈluː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Waterloo?
Waterloo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · loo.
Is Waterloo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌwɔːtəˈluː/ (waw-tuh-LOO).