How to pronounce watertight
Say it like WAW-ter-tyte. Watertight 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 watertight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- tyte
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Watertight 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.
- tyteGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of watertight
- 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-tyte.
What does watertight mean?
- So tightly made that water cannot enter or escape.
- So devised or planned as to be impossible to defeat, evade or nullify.“a watertight alibi”
Where does watertight come from?
From water + tight. Compare Scots wattirticht (“watertight”), West Frisian wetterticht (“waterproof”), Dutch waterdicht (“waterproof, watertight”), German wasserdicht (“watertight, waterproof”), Danish vandtæt (“watertight”), Swedish vatten
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying watertight
How do you pronounce watertight?
Say WAW-ter-tyte. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚˌtaɪt/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtətaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in watertight?
Watertight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · tyte.
Is watertight 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 /ˈwɔːtətaɪt/ (WAW-tuh-tyte).