How to pronounce wonder
Say it like WUHN-der. Wonder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wonder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WUHN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wonder pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of wonder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WUHN-duh.
What does wonder mean?
- have a wish or desire to know something“He wondered who had built this beautiful church”
- place in doubt or express doubtful speculation“I wonder whether this was the right thing to do”“she wondered whether it would snow tonight”
- be amazed at“We marvelled at the child's linguistic abilities”
- the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
- something that causes feelings of wonder“the wonders of modern science”
- a state in which you want to learn more about something
Where does wonder come from?
Via PIE cognate with English wish (see more).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wonder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wonder.
Questions about saying wonder
How do you pronounce wonder?
Say WUHN-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈwʌndɚ/. In British English it is /ˈwʌndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wonder?
Wonder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUHN). Broken into parts: WUHN · der.
Is wonder 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 /ˈwʌndə/ (WUHN-duh).