How to pronounce cheer
Say it like CHEER. Cheer is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cheer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cheer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of cheer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: CHEER.
What does cheer mean?
- give encouragement to
- show approval or good wishes by shouting“everybody cheered the birthday boy”
- cause (somebody) to feel happier or more cheerful“She tried to cheer up the disappointed child when he failed to win the spelling bee”
- a cry or shout of approval
- the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom“flowers added a note of cheerfulness to the drab room”
Where does cheer come from?
From Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere (“head, face; appearance; reception, hospitality; meal, dinner, food”) (Modern French chère), from Late Latin cara (“head”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with cheer
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cheer.
Questions about saying cheer
How do you pronounce cheer?
Say CHEER. The American pronunciation is /tʃɪr/. In British English it is /tʃɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cheer?
Cheer is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHEER.
Is cheer pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /tʃɪə/ (CHEER).