How to pronounce potsherd
Say it like POT-sherd. Potsherd has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce potsherd. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POT
- sherd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Potsherd pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sherdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of potsherd
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: POT-shurd.
What does potsherd mean?
- A piece of ceramic from pottery, often found on an archaeological site.
Where does potsherd come from?
From Middle English pot-sherd, pot-schord, pot scherd, pot scarth, from Middle English pot, pote, potte (“a container, pot, vessel; especially an earthenware vessel”) (from late Old English pot, pott (“a pot”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-Eu
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying potsherd
How do you pronounce potsherd?
Say POT-sherd. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑtʃərd/. In British English it is /ˈpɒtʃɜːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in potsherd?
Potsherd has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POT). Broken into parts: POT · sherd.
Is potsherd 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 /ˈpɒtʃɜːd/ (POT-shurd).