How to pronounce scouring
Say it like SKOW-er-ing. Scouring has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOW).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scouring. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈskaʊɚɪŋ/SKOW-er-ing
UK British/ˈskaʊrɪŋ/SKOW-ring
- SKOW
- er
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scouring 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.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of scouring
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SKOW-ring.
What does scouring mean?
noun
- The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush, soap and water.
- Diarrhea. (Now used only of livestock, though also sometimes used of humans into the 1600s.)
- Erosion by water, especially in watercourses.
- present participle and gerund of scour How to pronounce scour“Scouring the entire area revealed nothing.”
Questions about saying scouring
How do you pronounce scouring?
Say SKOW-er-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈskaʊɚɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈskaʊrɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scouring?
Scouring has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOW). Broken into parts: SKOW · er · ing.
Is scouring pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈskaʊrɪŋ/ (SKOW-ring).