How to pronounce wormwood
Say it like WERM-wud. Wormwood has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WERM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wormwood. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WERM
- wud
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wormwood pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WERMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- wudKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of wormwood
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WURM-wud.
What does wormwood mean?
- An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
- Something that causes bitterness or affliction; a cause of mortification or vexation.
Where does wormwood come from?
From Middle English wormwode, a folk etymology (as if worm + wood) of wermode (“wormwood”), from Old English wermōd (“wormwood, absinthe”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjamōdā (“wormwood”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying wormwood
How do you pronounce wormwood?
Say WERM-wud. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɚmwʊd/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːmwʊd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wormwood?
Wormwood has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WERM). Broken into parts: WERM · wud.
Is wormwood 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 /ˈwɜːmwʊd/ (WURM-wud).