Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

iou

/ˌaɪˌoʊjˈu/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.26 in modern English

Syllables
iou
IPA
/ˌaɪˌoʊjˈu/
3
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
3
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

I owe you.

noun

An informal promissory note that is not a negotiable instrument.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From the pronunciation of "I owe you". Attested since at least 1618.

Inflected Forms

IOUs (plural)

Rhymes With

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

Questions

How do you pronounce iou?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌaɪˌoʊjˈu/.
What does iou mean?
I owe you.
Where does iou come from?
From the pronunciation of "I owe you". Attested since at least 1618.

How to pronounce iou

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