Learn How to Pronounce whole

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whole

Definition:

(nou) all of something including all its component elements or parts (nou) an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity

Phonetic Transcription:

həʊl

Examples:

I was totally mesmerized by the whole thing.

By the way, the whole wavelet thing here is a total mess.

There are in total 124 names praising the Sun in the whole procedure.

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whole

Related Words:

all

total

How to perfect your pronunciation of: whole

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Break whole down into individual sounds such as həʊl. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

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Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

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Common mistakes of whole pronunciation

Mispronouncing the vowel sound: Many speakers pronounce "whole" with a short "o" sound, like in "hot." The correct pronunciation uses a long "o" sound, noted as /hoʊl/ in US and /həʊl/ in UK. Tip: Practice stretching the "o" sound.
Adding an extra syllable: Some people mistakenly say "whole" as two syllables, like "ho-uhl." The correct pronunciation is a single syllable: /hoʊl/ in US and /həʊl/ in UK. Tip: Focus on blending the sounds smoothly.
Confusing with "hole": The words "whole" and "hole" sound the same but have different meanings. "Whole" refers to completeness, while "hole" is an opening. Both share the same pronunciation /hoʊl/ in US and /həʊl/ in UK. Tip: Use context to differentiate meanings.
Incorrect stress placement: Some speakers may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "who-le." The correct stress is on the first syllable: /ˈhoʊl/ in US and /ˈhəʊl/ in UK. Tip: Emphasize the "h" sound followed by the long "o."
Ignoring the "w" sound: A common mistake is omitting the "w" sound at the beginning, saying "ole" instead of "whole." The correct pronunciation starts with the "w" sound, /hoʊl/ in US and /həʊl/ in UK. Tip: Clearly pronounce the "w" to start strong.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "whole" in American English?

In American English, "whole" is pronounced as /hoʊl/ with a single syllable and no silent letters. The vowel sound is a long "o," as in "go."

Is there a difference in pronunciation of "whole" between American and British English?

No, both American and British English pronounce "whole" the same way, as /həʊl/. The main difference lies in the vowel sounds, where American English uses a diphthong and British English has a more rounded vowel.

What is the stress pattern for the word "whole"?

The word "whole" has primary stress on the only syllable, pronounced /hoʊl/. It is a monosyllabic word, which means it only has one syllable and one stress point.

Are there common mistakes when pronouncing "whole"?

One common mistake is mispronouncing "whole" as /hɔl/ or /hɒl/, which can confuse it with the word "hole." Make sure to emphasize the long "o" sound to distinguish it clearly.