How to pronounce wow
Say it like WOW. Wow 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 wow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WOW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of wow
American and British speakers say wow in essentially the same way: /waʊ/ in the US and /waʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: WOW.
What does wow mean?
- a joke that seems extremely funny
- impress greatly“The speaker wowed the audience”
Where does wow come from?
Attested since the 16th century; borrowed from Scots wow; ultimately a natural exclamation.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wow.
Questions about saying wow
How do you pronounce wow?
Say WOW. The American pronunciation is /waʊ/. In British English it is /waʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wow?
Wow is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WOW.
Do Americans and Brits say wow the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /waʊ/ and the British form is /waʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.