What is snow? Pronunciation and usage in English

snow means . Learn how to pronounce and use snow through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of snow

snownoun/verb

/snəʊ/
Definition & pronunciation of snow

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "snow" in English. It's a tricky one because it doesn't follow typical English pronunciation rules!

Here's the most common and natural way to say it:

"snoh"

Here's a breakdown of how it sounds:

  • "sn": Pronounced like the "sn" in "snake" or "sun." It's a quick, sharp sound.
  • "oh": This is the key part. It's pronounced like the "o" in "go" or "no." It's a short, rounded vowel sound. It’s not like the “o” in “bone.”

Important Notes & Common Mistakes:

  • Don't say "snow" like "sno." That's a very common mistake, especially for non-native speakers. The "o" is crucial.
  • Emphasis: There's a slight emphasis on the first syllable ("sn").

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Search: Just search for "how to pronounce snow" and you'll find audio examples on Google.
  • YouTube: There are tons of videos demonstrating the pronunciation. Search for "pronounce snow."
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/snow/ – This website allows you to hear native speakers pronounce the word in different accents.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you another example word?
  • Explain the difference between vowel sounds more generally?

Usage and examples with the word snow in English

Let's break down how to use the word "snow" in English. It's a pretty common word, but it can be used in a variety of ways!

1. As a Noun (the basic meaning)

  • Definition: Frozen precipitation in the form of white, fluffy flakes.
  • Examples:
    • "It's snowing outside." (Meaning it's actively falling)
    • "We received a lot of snow this winter." (Referring to the accumulation)
    • "The snow is beautiful." (Describing the appearance)
    • "He built a snowman." (Snow is a key ingredient)

2. Verb Forms – How to do things with snow

  • Snow (verb – present tense): To fall as snow.
    • "The snow is snowing heavily."
    • "The mountains are covered in snow." (This is used metaphorically - the mountains are covered)
  • Snowing (present participle): Currently falling.
    • "We were stuck in traffic because it was snowing."
  • Snowed (past tense): Fell as snow.
    • "It snowed last night, and the roads are icy."
  • Snowing (past participle): This form is rarely used as a verb on its own. It's often used in compound tenses, but it's more common to use "had snowed" or "has snowed."

3. Phrases & Idioms involving "Snow"

  • Have a snowball’s chance in hell: To have virtually no chance of success. (Example: "He's got a snowball's chance in hell of winning that competition.")
  • Snow job: A deceptive scheme or trick. (Example: "Don't believe his promises; it's just a snow job!")
  • Snow under someone’s nose: To do something secretly, while someone is watching. (Example: “They were having an affair right under her nose.”)
  • Lay a snowdrift (around something): To cover something completely with snow. (Example: “The snow drifted around the car, completely burying it.”)

4. Describing Snow

You can use descriptive adjectives to add more detail:

  • Heavy snow: A lot of snow falling.
  • Light snow: A little snow falling.
  • Powder snow: Fresh, dry snow.
  • Wet snow: Heavy, wet snow.
  • Fluffy snow: Light, airy snow.
  • Gentle snow: Light and soft falling snow.

5. Figurative Use

Sometimes “snow” is used metaphorically to represent something overwhelming or difficult:

  • “I’m feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work—it’s like a blizzard!”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you specifically trying to do with the word "snow"? (e.g., write a story, have a conversation, understand a sentence, etc.)

Synonyms for the word snow

Idioms of the word snow

as clean, pure, etc. as the driven snow
extremely clean, pure, etc.

    Practice with vocabulary snow

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. Drivers are advised to equip their vehicles with appropriate tires for winter conditions, especially when heavy ______ is expected.
    2. The ground was covered in a delicate layer of ______ after the temperature dropped below freezing last night, making the grass sparkle.
    3. The mountain passes are often closed in winter due to excessive ______fall and strong winds.
    4. Due to the unexpected cold snap, the city experienced a significant build-up of ______ on its pavements, making walking difficult and hazardous.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

    1. Which of these terms describes soft, white flakes of ice that fall from the sky in cold weather? a) hail b) slush c) blizzard d) snow e) frost

    2. Which of the following types of precipitation or weather phenomena would cause significant disruptions to air travel due to reduced visibility and runway conditions? a) drizzle b) fog c) heavy rain d) snow e) mist

    3. For recreational activities such as building a snowman or making snow angels, what material is primarily required? a) sand b) mud c) snow d) ice e) gravel

    4. What phenomenon describes a thin, often invisible, layer of ice that forms on road surfaces, posing a significant driving hazard? a) glaze b) black ice c) frost d) slush e) sleet

    5. Which meteorological term refers to a prolonged period of extremely low temperatures? a) heatwave b) cold snap c) drought d) thaw e) monsoon

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Rewrite the sentence to use a form of "snow": The significant accumulation of frozen precipitation caused several road closures yesterday.

    2. Rewrite the sentence to use a form of "snow": During the intense winter storm, large, soft flakes were continuously falling from the sky.

    3. Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word, not "snow": The low temperatures last night resulted in a thin layer of frozen dew on the car windshields.

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. snow
    2. frost
    3. snow
    4. ice

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. d) snow
    2. b) fog, d) snow
    3. c) snow
    4. b) black ice
    5. b) cold snap

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Heavy snow caused several road closures yesterday. (or: Heavy snowfall caused several road closures yesterday.)
    2. During the intense winter storm, it was continuously snowing heavily.
    3. The low temperatures last night resulted in a thin layer of frost on the car windshields.

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