A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Warwick
Learn how to pronounce Warwick correctly: ignore the w and pronounce it as two syllables, WAH-rik.
warwick
WAH-rik
/ˈwɑːrɪk/ · war · wick
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It also appears frequently as a surname or when referring to various cities in the United States, such as Warwick, Rhode Island.
Where the word comes from
The name comes from the Old English words 'wering' (a weir or dam) and 'wic' (a settlement or dairy farm).
Common ways people get it wrong
- WAR-wik Many Americans pronounce the 'w' in the second syllable because of the spelling; simply drop the 'w' sound entirely.
Frequently asked
Is the w in Warwick silent?
The first w is pronounced, but the second w is silent. You should treat the name as if it were spelled 'Warrik'.
How do you pronounce Warwick in Rhode Island?
Locals in Rhode Island pronounce it the same way as the English town: WAH-rik. Avoid the temptation to enunciate the second w.
Why is Warwick pronounced differently than it looks?
Like many English place names, the pronunciation evolved over centuries to be more efficient. The second syllable was reduced to a simple suffix, dropping the distinct w sound.
