How to pronounce whatever
Say it like wuht-EV-er. Whatever has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whatever. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- wuht
- EV
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whatever pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- wuhtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- EVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of whatever
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: wot-EV-uh.
What does whatever mean?
- one or some or every or all without specification“give me any peaches you don't want”“not any milk is left”
Where does whatever come from?
From Middle English whatever.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with whatever
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whatever.
Questions about saying whatever
How do you pronounce whatever?
Say wuht-EV-er. The American pronunciation is /ˌwʌˈtɛvɚ/. In British English it is /ˌwɒˈtɛvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whatever?
Whatever has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EV). Broken into parts: wuht · EV · er.
Is whatever 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 /ˌwɒˈtɛvə/ (wot-EV-uh).