How to pronounce whereas
Say it like weh-RAZ. Whereas has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whereas. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- weh
- RAZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whereas pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- wehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- RAZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of whereas
American and British speakers say whereas in essentially the same way: /wɛˈræz/ in the US and /ˌwɛəˈræz/ in the UK.
British respelling: wair-RAZ.
What does whereas mean?
- In contrast; whilst on the contrary; although.“He came first in the race, whereas his brother came last.”
- It being the fact that; inasmuch as. (Often used to begin recitals; sometimes emboldened or emphasized as a signifier.)
- A clause, as in legal documents, stating whereas.
Where does whereas come from?
From where + as (“that”); first attested in the meaning of "where" in the 14th century.
Words that rhyme with whereas
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whereas.
Questions about saying whereas
How do you pronounce whereas?
Say weh-RAZ. The American pronunciation is /wɛˈræz/. In British English it is /ˌwɛəˈræz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whereas?
Whereas has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAZ). Broken into parts: weh · RAZ.
Do Americans and Brits say whereas the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɛˈræz/ and the British form is /ˌwɛəˈræz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.