How to pronounce set
Say it like SET. Set is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- SET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Set pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of set
American and British speakers say set in essentially the same way: /sɛt/ in the US and /sɛt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SET.
What does set mean?
- To put (something) down, to rest.“Set the tray there.”
- To attach or affix (something) to something else, or in or upon a certain place.“I have set my heart on running the marathon.”
- To put in a specified condition or state; to cause to be.
- A punch for setting nails in wood.“nail set”
- A device for receiving broadcast radio waves (or, more recently, broadcast data); a radio or television.“television set”
- Alternative form of sett (“a hole made and lived in by a badger”).
- Fixed in position.
- Rigid, solidified.
- Ready, prepared.“on your marks, get set, go!; on your marks, set, go!”
Where does set come from?
Cognate with Dutch zetten, German setzen, Danish sætte, Norwegian Bokmål sette, Icelandic and Norwegian Nynorsk setja, Swedish sätta, Faroese seta.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with set
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of set.
Questions about saying set
How do you pronounce set?
Say SET. The American pronunciation is /sɛt/. In British English it is /sɛt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in set?
Set is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SET.
Do Americans and Brits say set the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛt/ and the British form is /sɛt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.