How to pronounce winnow
Say it like WIN-oh. Winnow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce winnow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIN
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Winnow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of winnow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: WIN-oh.
What does winnow mean?
- To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
- To separate, sift, analyze, or test by separating items having different values.“They winnowed the field to twelve.”
- To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
- That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.
- The act of winnowing
Where does winnow come from?
From Middle English wyndwen, from Old English windwian (“to winnow, fan, ventilate”), from Proto-West Germanic *windwōn, from Proto-Germanic *windwōną, *winþijaną (“to throw about, winnow”), from Proto-Indo-European *wē- (“to winnow, thresh”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with winnow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of winnow.
Questions about saying winnow
How do you pronounce winnow?
Say WIN-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪnoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈwɪnəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in winnow?
Winnow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIN). Broken into parts: WIN · oh.
Is winnow 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 /ˈwɪnəʊ/ (WIN-oh).