How to pronounce guard
Say it like GARD. Guard 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 guard. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GARD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Guard pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GARDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of guard
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: GAHD.
What does guard mean?
- a person who keeps watch over something or someone
- the person who plays that position on a football team“the left guard was injured on the play”
- a device designed to prevent injury or accidents
- to keep watch over“there would be men guarding the horses”
- watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect“guard my possessions while I'm away”
- protect against a challenge or attack“Hold that position behind the trees!”“Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks”
Where does guard come from?
From Middle English garde, from early Middle French or late Old French guarde (“a guardian, warden, keeper”) (whence modern French garde), from the verb guarder.
Words that rhyme with guard
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of guard.
Questions about saying guard
How do you pronounce guard?
Say GARD. The American pronunciation is /ɡɑrd/. In British English it is /ɡɑːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in guard?
Guard is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GARD.
Is guard 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 /ɡɑːd/ (GAHD).