2 syllables: fel, low. Stress on fel.
FEL-oh
/ˈfɛloʊ/
fellow is pronounced FEL-oh (/ˈfɛloʊ/). It has two syllables (fel-low), with the stress on "fel". A male companion or colleague; a person who shares a journey or activity with you. In formal contexts it can mean a person of a certain status or position, while in general use it refers to a friend or peer. The word signals warmth, camaraderie, and sociability, and also appears in phrases like inaugural “fellow travelers” or academic “fellowships.”.
A male companion or colleague; a person who shares a journey or activity with you. In formal contexts it can mean a person of a certain status or position, while in general use it refers to a friend or peer. The word signals warmth, camaraderie, and sociability, and also appears in phrases like inaugural “fellow travelers” or academic “fellowships.”
"She became a fellow at the university, working on research with the mentor."
"We sat with the fellow students to discuss the project after class."
"The fellow offered a helping hand during the busy conference, easing the workload for everyone."
Pronounce as /ˈfɛloʊ/ (US) or /ˈfel.əʊ/ (UK/AU). Start with a clear /f/; then the stressed syllable contains /ɛ/ as in “air,” followed by a light /l/ and a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the final syllable. The stress is on the first syllable: FEL-low. A quick, natural version blends to /ˈfɛləʊ/ in some fast speech. Listen for a gentle release on the second syllable.
Common errors include saying /ˈfiːl.oʊ/ with a long /iː/ as in “feel,” or turning the /l/ into a dark, heavy sound across both syllables. Another pitfall is reducing the /ɛ/ toward /e/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable. Correct by practicing FEL with a crisp /f/ and /ɛ/ in the first syllable, then a lighter, rounded /oʊ/ in the second.
US: /ˈfɛloʊ/ with rhotic /r/ absent postvocalically; UK/AU: /ˈfel.əʊ/ with a shorter, more centralized first vowel and a clearer /oʊ/ diphthong. In some UK varieties, you may hear slight vowel shortening and less prominent final /oʊ/. AU often smooths the second syllable, approaching /ˈfel.əʊ/ with subtle Australian vowel quality shifts.
The challenge lies in balancing the two syllables without over-articulating the /l/ and in producing the /ɛ/ to /oʊ/ transition smoothly. Your tongue must stay mid-front for /ɛ/ then glide to a rounded back vowel /oʊ/. Additionally, maintaining primary stress on the first syllable while the second syllable reduces can be tricky in fast speech.
A unique factor is the light, almost obstruent release of the second syllable; the /l/ is clear but not heavily pronounced, and the second syllable carries the glide. Think of FEL + low, where the “low” is a soft, rounded offglide, not a strong consonant pair. This subtle reduction creates the characteristic smooth, two-syllable rhythm.
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Fellow derives from Old English felaga, meaning partner or fellow, which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic *felagaz, meaning one who is bound or joined, a companion, comrade. The sense broadened over time: by the Middle Ages, fellow referred to a partner in a shared enterprise, and by the 16th–17th centuries, it came to denote a member of a guild, a partner, or a group member. In modern usage, fellow commonly means a peer or associate, particularly someone who shares a common occupation or activity, while also appearing in institutional titles (fellow of a society) and in informal contexts meaning friend or buddy. First known use in English traces to early medieval texts, with sustained usage in scholarly and social contexts through the Renaissance and into contemporary English.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fellow" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "fellow" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "fellow"
-low sounds
-ct) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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