How to pronounce force
Say it like FORS. Force is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- FORS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Force pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of force
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAWS.
What does force mean?
- Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.“the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract”
- The generalized abstraction of this concept.“Torque is the rotational version of force.”
- A particular form or type of force.“Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.”
- To make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will.
- To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.
- To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).
- A waterfall or cascade.
Where does force come from?
From Middle English force, fors, forse, from Old French force, from Late Latin fortia, a noun derived from the neuter plural of Latin fortis (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise, high, hill”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with force
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of force.
Words that sound like force
Questions about saying force
How do you pronounce force?
Say FORS. The American pronunciation is /fɔrs/. In British English it is /fɔːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in force?
Force is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FORS.
Is force 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 /fɔːs/ (FAWS).
What words sound the same as force?
Force sounds the same as fourths in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.