Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

whew

/hwjuː/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.24 in modern English

Syllables: whew
IPA: /hwjuː/

13

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

3

Unique Chars

Meaning

intj

An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

intj

An expression of amazement or surprise.

verb

To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.

British usage

verb

To bustle about.

British usage; Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"(from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!"
"(from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness youʼre safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!"
"(from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didnʼt see me! That was a close call!"
"Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"

Usage

British usage
Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

whews (present, singular) whewing (participle, present) whewed (participle, past) whewed (past)

Phrases

whew duck

Frequently Paired Words

whoa wow whewee

Synonyms

phew wow

Homonyms

phew

Rhymes With

to you do who to-do new two too through few true due

Questions

How do you pronounce whew?: The recorded pronunciation is /hwjuː/.
What does whew mean?: An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

How to pronounce whew

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