How to pronounce whether
Say it like WETH-er. Whether has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WETH).
- WETH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whether pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WETHSay 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 whether
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WETH-uh.
What does whether mean?
- Introduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).“Whether we'll be on time I'm unsure.”
- Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).“He chose the correct answer, but whether by luck or by skill I don't know.”
- Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).“He's coming, whether you like it or not.”
Where does whether come from?
From Middle English whether, whather, from Old English hweþer, hwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaþar, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz (“who”).
Words that rhyme with whether
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whether.
Words that sound like whether
Questions about saying whether
How do you pronounce whether?
Say WETH-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɛðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈwɛðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whether?
Whether has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WETH). Broken into parts: WETH · er.
Is whether 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 /ˈwɛðə/ (WETH-uh).
What words sound the same as whether?
Whether sounds the same as weather, wether in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.