How to Pronounce Shadow

To pronounce "shadow", say SHAD-ow — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈʃædəʊ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

shadow

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈʃædəʊ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “shadow”

"shadow" has 2 syllables: shad-ow. It rhymes with apropos and show, if that helps it stick.

What does shadow mean?

noun

  1. A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.

    “My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.”

  2. Relative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom, obscurity.

    “I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.”

verb

  1. To shade, cloud or darken.

    “The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.”

  2. To block light or radio transmission from.

    “Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.”

adjective

  1. Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.

    “The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.”

  2. Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.

    “The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.”

Synonyms

umbra

Hear “shadow” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with shadow

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

aproposshowflowfallowalthoughlowbestowglowafterglowthrowgrottobeau

Related words

traceapparitionphantomvestigeovershadowdwarfshadedark

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "shadow"?▾

"Shadow" has 2 syllables: shad · ow.

What is the IPA transcription of "shadow"?▾

The IPA transcription of "shadow" is /ˈʃædəʊ/.

What does "shadow" mean?▾

Shadow: A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.

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