How to pronounce insure
Say it like in-SHOOR. Insure has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SHOOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce insure. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- SHOOR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Insure pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SHOORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of insure
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-SHAW.
What does insure mean?
- To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation in case of an accident, theft or other undesirable event.“I'm not insured against burglary.”
- To deal in such contracts; subscribe to a policy of insurance
- Alternative spelling of ensure; to make sure or certain of; guarantee.
Where does insure come from?
First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from Old French en- + seür (“sure”), probably influenced by Old French asseürer (“to assure”)); took on its particular sense of "make safe
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with insure
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of insure.
Words that sound like insure
Questions about saying insure
How do you pronounce insure?
Say in-SHOOR. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/. In British English it is /ɪnˈʃɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in insure?
Insure has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SHOOR). Broken into parts: in · SHOOR.
Is insure 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 /ɪnˈʃɔː/ (in-SHAW).
What words sound the same as insure?
Insure sounds the same as ensure in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.