Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

arrow

/ˈæɹəʉ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.13 in modern English

Syllables
ar-row
IPA
/ˈæɹəʉ/
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

noun

A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g.→).

noun

A directed edge.

noun

A morphism.

noun

A dart.

Colloquial

verb

To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English arwe, from Old English earh (“arrow”) (oblique form ēarw-), from Proto-West Germanic *arhu (“arrow”), from Proto-Germanic *arhwō (“arrow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂érkʷo- (“bow, arrow”). Cognate with Faroese ørv, ørvur (“arrow”), Icelandic ör (“arrow”), örvar (“arrows”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐍈𐌰𐌶𐌽𐌰 (arƕazna, “dart”), Asturian and Leonese arcu (“bow”), Aragonese, Galician, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish arco (“bow”), Catalan, French, and Romanian arc (“bow”), Latin arcus (“bow”). Doublet of arch, arc, arco, and arcus.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: arwe, earh, *arhu, *arhwō, *h₂érkʷo-

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈæɹəʉ/
  • British English: /ˈæ.ɹəʊ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

← ↑ → ↓ ↔ ↕ ↖ ↗

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce arrow?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈæɹəʉ/.
What does arrow mean?
A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.
Where does arrow come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce arrow

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “arrow”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈæɹəʉ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “arrow”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “arrow” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.