How to pronounce scour
Say it like SKOW-er. Scour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scour. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKOW
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scour pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of scour
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SKOW-uh.
What does scour mean?
- To clean, polish, or wash (something) by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent.“He scoured the burnt food from the pan.”
- To remove debris and dirt (from something) by purging; to sweep along or off by a current of water.
- To clear the digestive tract (of an animal) by administering medication that induces defecation or vomiting; to purge.“to scour a horse”
- To search an area thoroughly.“They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.”
- To run with speed; to scurry.
- To move swiftly over; to brush along.
- The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.“Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the structure.”
- A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a waterfall.
- A place where wool is washed to remove grease and impurities prior to processing.
Where does scour come from?
The word is cognate with Danish skure, Middle High German schüren, schiuren (modern German scheuern (“to scour, scrub; to chafe”)), Norwegian skura (“to scrub”), Swedish skura, Catalan escurar.
Words that rhyme with scour
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scour.
Questions about saying scour
How do you pronounce scour?
Say SKOW-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈskaʊɚ/. In British English it is /ˈskaʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scour?
Scour has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOW). Broken into parts: SKOW · er.
Is scour 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 /ˈskaʊə/ (SKOW-uh).