How to pronounce self
Say it like SELF. Self 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 self. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SELF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Self pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SELFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of self
American and British speakers say self in essentially the same way: /sɛlf/ in the US and /sɛlf/ in the UK.
British respelling: SELF.
What does self mean?
- your consciousness of your own identity
- a person considered as a unique individual“one's own self”
- (used as a combining form) relating to--of or by or to or from or for--the self“self-knowledge”“self-proclaimed”
Where does self come from?
Cognates with Saterland Frisian sälven, säärm, sääuwen (“oneself”), West Frisian sels (“oneself”), Bavarian söbe (“identical, same”), söber (“self”), Dutch zelf (“myself, oneself”), German selber (“self”), selbst (“by oneself”), Luxembourgi
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with self
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of self.
Questions about saying self
How do you pronounce self?
Say SELF. The American pronunciation is /sɛlf/. In British English it is /sɛlf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in self?
Self is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SELF.
Do Americans and Brits say self the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛlf/ and the British form is /sɛlf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.