How to pronounce wilderness
Say it like WIL-der-nus. Wilderness has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wilderness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIL
- der
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wilderness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of wilderness
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WIL-duh-nis.
What does wilderness mean?
- (politics) a state of disfavor“he led the Democratic party back from the wilderness”
- a wooded region in northeastern Virginia near Spotsylvania where bloody but inconclusive battles were fought in the American Civil War
- a wild and uninhabited area left in its natural condition“it was a wilderness preserved for the hawks and mountaineers”
Questions about saying wilderness
How do you pronounce wilderness?
Say WIL-der-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪldɚnəs/. In British English it is /ˈwɪldənɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wilderness?
Wilderness has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIL). Broken into parts: WIL · der · nus.
Is wilderness 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 /ˈwɪldənɪs/ (WIL-duh-nis).