How to pronounce whirlwind
Say it like WURL-wind. Whirlwind has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whirlwind. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WURL
- wind
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whirlwind pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- windGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of whirlwind
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURL-wind.
What does whirlwind mean?
- A windstorm of limited extent, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air.
- A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.“Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.”
- Rapid and minimal.“a whirlwind tour, a whirlwind romance”
Where does whirlwind come from?
From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl + wind.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying whirlwind
How do you pronounce whirlwind?
Say WURL-wind. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝlˌwɪnd/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːlwɪnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whirlwind?
Whirlwind has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WURL). Broken into parts: WURL · wind.
Is whirlwind 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 /ˈwɜːlwɪnd/ (WURL-wind).