How to pronounce for
Say it like FOR. For 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 for. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
For pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of for
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW.
What does for mean?
- Because.“I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.”
- Towards; in the direction of.“The astronauts headed for the moon.”
- Leading towards in time or circumstance.“We're heading for bankruptcy.”
- Directed at; intended to belong to.“I have something for you.”
- To; (the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive).
Where does for come from?
Cognate with West Frisian foar (“for”), Dutch voor (“for”), German für (“for”), Danish for (“for”), Swedish för (“for”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk for (“for”), Icelandic fyrir (“for”), Latin per (“by, through, for, by means of”
Words that rhyme with for
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of for.
Words that sound like for
Questions about saying for
How do you pronounce for?
Say FOR. The American pronunciation is /fɔr/. In British English it is /fɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in for?
For is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FOR.
Is for 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 /fɔː/ (FAW).
What words sound the same as for?
For sounds the same as fore, four in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.