How to pronounce waterway
Say it like WAW-ter-way. Waterway 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 waterway. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAW
- ter
- way
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waterway 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.
- wayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of waterway
- 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-way.
What does waterway mean?
- A body of water, such as a river, channel or canal, that is navigable.
- A conduit or watercourse, such as on the deck of a ship, to drain water.
Where does waterway come from?
From Middle English waterwey, from Old English wæterweġ (“waterway”), from Proto-West Germanic *watarweg, equivalent to water + way.
Questions about saying waterway
How do you pronounce waterway?
Say WAW-ter-way. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɔtɚˌweɪ/. In British English it is /ˈwɔːtəweɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waterway?
Waterway has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAW). Broken into parts: WAW · ter · way.
Is waterway 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 /ˈwɔːtəweɪ/ (WAW-tuh-way).