How to pronounce whelp
Say it like WELP. Whelp is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- WELP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whelp pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WELPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of whelp
American and British speakers say whelp in essentially the same way: /wɛlp/ in the US and /wɛlp/ in the UK.
British respelling: WELP.
What does whelp mean?
- A young offspring of a various carnivores (canid, ursid, felid, pinniped), especially of a dog or a wolf, the young of a bear or similar mammal (lion, tiger, seal); a pup, wolf cub.
- One of several wooden strips to prevent wear on a windlass on a clipper-era ship.
- A tooth on a sprocket wheel (compare sprocket and cog).
- To give birth.“The bitch whelped.”
- Alternative form of welp (“well”).
Where does whelp come from?
From Middle English whelp, from Old English hwelp, from Proto-West Germanic *hwelp, from Proto-Germanic *hwelpaz (compare Dutch welp, German Welpe, Welfe, Old Norse hvelpr, Norwegian Nynorsk kvelp, Danish hvalp), from pre-Germanic *kʷelbos, of uncertain origin.
Words that rhyme with whelp
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whelp.
Words that sound like whelp
Questions about saying whelp
How do you pronounce whelp?
Say WELP. The American pronunciation is /wɛlp/. In British English it is /wɛlp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whelp?
Whelp is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WELP.
Do Americans and Brits say whelp the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɛlp/ and the British form is /wɛlp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as whelp?
Whelp sounds the same as welp in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.