How to pronounce whitewash

Say WY-twahsh. The American pronunciation is /ˈwaɪˌtwɑʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Say it like WY-twahsh. Whitewash has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WY).

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US American/ˈwaɪˌtwɑʃ/WY-twahsh

UK BritishNo British transcription yet. The audio still plays in this accent.

Whitewash pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

noun

A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.
A thing used to hide mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; also (often politics), an act of hiding mistakes or creating an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; especially, a campaign, investigation, etc., which intentionally hides or overlooks unfavourable facts.
An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.

verb

To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash.“The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighborhood.”
To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light.
To clear (someone's) debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court; also, to clear or write off (a debt).

The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.

Say WY-twahsh. The American pronunciation is /ˈwaɪˌtwɑʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Whitewash has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WY). Broken into parts: WY · twahsh.