# How do pronounce wheelbarrow? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964 "2012-06-22T17:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/1 "2012-06-22T17:31:42Z")
inspired by a incident at Home Depot. Do you have a “wheel borrow” huh?? she says? “wheel borrow” huh? finally I say it wrong “wheel barrel” oh yeah Aisle 10. I’ve always heard it as wheel borrow but spelled barrow. when did people start calling it wheel barrel? Bonus points if you can explain the word origins of barrow and why it has a wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/2 "2012-06-22T17:35:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > inspired by a incident at Home Depot. Do you have a “wheel borrow” huh?? she says? “wheel borrow” huh? finally I say it wrong “wheel barrel” oh yeah Aisle 10. > > I’ve always heard it as wheel borrow but spelled barrow. > > when did people start calling it wheel barrel? > > Bonus points if you can explain the word origins of barrow and why it has a wheel. Wheelbarrow here, never wheelborrow. ---
**Author:** ![kmshrader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@kmshrader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kmshrader)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/3 "2012-06-22T17:37:43Z")
I’m not sure what you’re asking. Around here it’s spelled ‘wheelbarrow’ and rhymes with ‘Where oh.’ Never ever said “borrow” as in “sorrow.” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/4 "2012-06-22T17:38:40Z")
“Wheelbārrow,” like it’s spelt. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/5 "2012-06-22T17:39:21Z")
Isn’t barrow and borrow prounced about the same? you roll the “rrr” sound a bit more in barrow like barr-ah vs barr-oh but they are close. Especially if you say it in a hurry. There are many people that say wheel barrel. I have No idea why. Home Depot lady sure knew wheel barrel. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/6 "2012-06-22T17:40:10Z")
Rhymes with “narrow.” There is no such word as “norrow.” Or “wheelborrow.” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/7 "2012-06-22T17:42:09Z")
Wheelbarrow rhymes with Steel Arrow. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/8 "2012-06-22T17:42:52Z")
I’m somewhere between “barrow” and “burruh.” But definitely not “borrow” or “barrel.” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/9 "2012-06-22T17:45:14Z")
Here’s the Merriam-Webster approved pronounciation - [Click Here]([http://www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php?file=wheelb01&word=wheelbarrow&text=\\ˈ\<%2Fspan\>hwēl-\ˌ\<%2Fspan\>ba-(\ˌ\<%2Fspan\>)rō%2C%20\ˈ\<%2Fspan\>wēl-\](http://www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php?file=wheelb01&word=wheelbarrow&text=%5C%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Ehw%C4%93l-%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%8C%3C%2Fspan%3Eba-%28%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%8C%3C%2Fspan%3E%29r%C5%8D%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Ew%C4%93l-%5C)) Just like it’s spelled - barrow. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/10 "2012-06-22T17:51:51Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > I’m somewhere between “barrow” and “burruh.” But definitely not “borrow” or “barrel.” So you have a little accent affecting the proper pronunciation, which you know, so it’s as good as saying wheelbarrow. Anyone who thinks it’s actually pronounced wheelborrow, must not get out much, since that’s also just some accent. But for someone who says wheelbarrel, can you read? Also, a barrow is some kind of box, not necessarily on wheels. In _To Sir with Love_, one of the students feels he doesn’t need much education because he’ll get to work his family’s barrow, a street sales stand. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/11 "2012-06-22T18:09:12Z")
Another vote for “steel arrow” pronunciation, but I can say that I have seen home-made wheelbarrels. Don’t know if there really is such a thing, but cut a wine barrel in half, bolt on some wheels and handles and there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/12 "2012-06-22T18:11:40Z")
I pronounce it the normal way, like it’s spelled. Side note: I always pick either the dog or the wheelbarrow when I play Monopoly. In the unfortunate circumstance that they’re both taken, I have to settle for the car. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/13 "2012-06-22T18:13:10Z")
I think I may have pronounced it “wheel barrel” when I was 6, when I would ask my grandfather to give me a ride around the yard in it. But then I learned how to pronounce words correctly. Wheelbarrow (wheel _arrow_, not wheel _sorrow_). ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/14 "2012-06-22T18:14:33Z")
> [@Who\_me\_1](#): > > Wheelbarrow here, never wheelborrow. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/15 "2012-06-22T18:37:09Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Side note: I always pick either the dog or the wheelbarrow when I play Monopoly. In the unfortunate circumstance that they’re both taken, I have to settle for the car. What?!?! Everybody wants the car. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/16 "2012-06-22T18:38:04Z")
I make sure to over-pronounce the “h.” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/17 "2012-06-22T18:40:50Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I pronounce it the normal way, like it’s spelled. > > Side note: I always pick either the dog or the wheelbarrow when I play Monopoly. In the unfortunate circumstance that they’re both taken, I have to settle for the car. That’s a crazy family you’ve got there! –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/18 "2012-06-22T18:43:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Bonus points if you can explain the word origins of barrow and why it has a wheel. Desmond is credited with naming it. He had one in the marketplace because he bankrolled Molly who was a singer in a band. He put a big wheel on it to reflect his stature in the biz. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/19 "2012-06-22T18:44:36Z")
I hate to admit it, but my hick upbringing means I say wheelburrow as you would say if you were talking about a critters hole in the ground. Oddly enough I do say barrow for the two person hand carried cart that most people would call a litter if they even know what to call the device. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964/20 "2012-06-22T18:50:09Z")
Oh I missed the bonus question barrow has it’s root in the Old English word for basket, a barrow is a cart or similar to a litter,that is carried by two people. When you add a wheel and reduce the required manpower by 1/2 you get the wheelbarrow. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pronounce-wheelbarrow/625964.md?page=2)