Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

slaw

/slɔ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.59 in modern English

Syllables: slaw
IPA: /slɔ/

7

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Canadian usage; American usage; Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Barbecue is always served with slaw in North Carolina and always has been."
"My boss, whose daughter was a working chef, told me that I made the best slaws that she had ever tasted. The secret is that slaws deserve as much care in their preparation as any other good meal."
"Slaws go well with grilled lean protein items and sandwiches."

Etymology

Borrowed (around 1861) from Dutch sla, shortened from salade (“salad, lettuce”).

Origin

Source language: Dutch

Word Breakdown

Root: sla

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /slɔ/
British English: /slɔː/

Usage

Inflected Forms

slaws (plural)

Derived Forms

kimslaw slawdog

Phrases

barbecue slaw cheese slaw North Carolina slaw rainbow slaw red slaw vinegar slaw white slaw

Synonyms

coleslaw

Rhymes With

law in-law saw draw aw shaw withdraw straw jaw flaw claw paw

Questions

How do you pronounce slaw?: The recorded pronunciation is /slɔ/.
What does slaw mean?: Coleslaw.
Where does slaw come from?: It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce slaw

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