How to pronounce whole
Say it like HOHL. Whole is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whole. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOHL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whole pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of whole
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOHL.
What does whole mean?
- including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete“gave his whole attention”“a whole wardrobe for the tropics”
- (of siblings) having the same parents“whole brothers and sisters”
- not injured or harmed
- all of something including all its component elements or parts“Europe considered as a whole”“the whole of American literature”
- an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity“how big is that part compared to the whole?”“the team is a unit”
- to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (whole is often used informally for wholly)“he was wholly convinced”“entirely satisfied with the meal”
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with whole
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whole.
Words that sound like whole
Questions about saying whole
How do you pronounce whole?
Say HOHL. The American pronunciation is /hoʊl/. In British English it is /həʊl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whole?
Whole is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HOHL.
Is whole 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 /həʊl/ (HOHL).
What words sound the same as whole?
Whole sounds the same as hole in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.