How to pronounce watershed
Say it like WAW-ter-shed. Watershed 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 watershed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- shed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Watershed 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.
- shedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of watershed
- 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-shed.
Other ways to say watershed
Watershed also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- WAH-ter-shed /ˈwɑtɚˌʃɛd/
What does watershed mean?
- a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems
- the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; an area characterized by all runoff being conveyed to the same outlet“flood control in the Missouri basin”
- an event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend“the agreement was a watershed in the history of both nations”
Where does watershed come from?
From water + shed. A calque of German Wasserscheide.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying watershed
How do you pronounce watershed?
Say WAW-ter-shed. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚˌʃɛd/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in watershed?
Watershed has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · shed.
Is watershed 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 /ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd/ (WAW-tuh-shed).