How to pronounce whippoorwill
Say it like WIP-er-wil. Whippoorwill has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whippoorwill. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIP
- er
- wil
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whippoorwill pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- wilGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of whippoorwill
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WIP-uh-wil.
What does whippoorwill mean?
- A nocturnal insectivorous bird of North America (Antrostomus vociferus, syn. Caprimulgus vociferus), a type of nightjar, named after its characteristic call.
- The distinctive call of the above bird.“The bird sang his whippoorwills all night.”
Where does whippoorwill come from?
Imitative of its note.
Questions about saying whippoorwill
How do you pronounce whippoorwill?
Say WIP-er-wil. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪpɚˌwɪl/. In British English it is /ˈwɪpəˌwɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whippoorwill?
Whippoorwill has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIP). Broken into parts: WIP · er · wil.
Is whippoorwill 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 /ˈwɪpəˌwɪl/ (WIP-uh-wil).