How to pronounce whitlow
Say it like WIT-loh. Whitlow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whitlow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIT
- loh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whitlow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- lohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of whitlow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: WIT-loh.
What does whitlow mean?
- Inflammation and/or infection in the cuticle and/or the nailbed of a fingernail or toenail.
Where does whitlow come from?
From Late Middle English, an alteration of whitflaw, with the first element deriving either from Middle Dutch vijt or Low German fit (“abscess”), borrowed from Latin fīcus (“fig-shaped (ulcer)”), though also influenced by white.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- felon
- wicklow
Questions about saying whitlow
How do you pronounce whitlow?
Say WIT-loh. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪtloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈwɪtləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whitlow?
Whitlow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT). Broken into parts: WIT · loh.
Is whitlow pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈwɪtləʊ/ (WIT-loh).