Heteronym

How do you pronounce "wind"?

"Wind" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say WIND when it means moving air (noun), and WYND when it means to turn or coil (verb). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

Hear both pronunciations

noun

WIND

moving air

The wind is strong today.

verb

WYND

to turn or coil

Wind the clock before bed.

Each button speaks the respelling, not the spelling — otherwise the speech engine would pick a single default pronunciation for both senses.

Side by side

PronunciationPart of speechMeaning
WINDnounmoving air
WYNDverbto turn or coil

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "wind"?

"Wind" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say WIND when it means moving air (noun), and WYND when it means to turn or coil (verb). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

What does "wind" mean when it is pronounced WIND?

Pronounced WIND, "wind" is a noun meaning moving air. For example: "The wind is strong today."

What does "wind" mean when it is pronounced WYND?

Pronounced WYND, "wind" is a verb meaning to turn or coil. For example: "Wind the clock before bed."

Why does "wind" have two pronunciations?

"Wind" is a heteronym: two distinct words that happen to be spelled the same way. English spelling did not standardise around pronunciation, so unrelated words sometimes converged on one spelling while keeping separate sounds.

More heteronyms

Keep going

See the full entry for “wind, browse all 76 heteronyms and stress pairs, or learn how English stress works.