Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

phew

/fjuː/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.14 in modern English

Syllables: phew
IPA: /fjuː/

12

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

intj

Used to express relief of tension, fatigue, or surprise.

intj

Used to show disgust.

Example Sentences

"Phew, that took a long time to cook!"
"Phew, it stinks in here!"

Etymology

Attested since the early 17th century. An onomatopoeia for rapid exhalation, as one may make when a trying situation is over, or in order to get rid of an unpleasant odour. Compare Scots feuch, Spanish fu, Czech fuj, and many more such forms.

Inflected Forms

whew (alternative) pew (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

whew whewee phewee P U peeyoo pew

Synonyms

whew yuck

Homonyms

few feu fugh

Rhymes With

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

Questions

How do you pronounce phew?: The recorded pronunciation is /fjuː/.
What does phew mean?: Used to express relief of tension, fatigue, or surprise.
Where does phew come from?: Attested since the early 17th century. An onomatopoeia for rapid exhalation, as one may make when a trying situation is over, or in order to get rid of an unpleasant odour. Compare Scots feuch, Spanish fu, Czech fuj, and many more such forms.

How to pronounce phew

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