How to pronounce shearing
Say it like SHIR-ing. Shearing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shearing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHIR
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shearing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of shearing
American and British speakers say shearing in essentially the same way: /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHIR-ing.
What does shearing mean?
- Tending to cut or tear.
- present participle and gerund of shear How to pronounce shear
- The act or operation of removing the fleece from a sheep, llama etc. with shears or a shearing machine
- The removal of nap from cloth.
- The material cut off in this way.“the whole shearing of a flock; the shearings from cloth”
Where does shearing come from?
From Middle English scherynge; equivalent to shear + -ing.
Words that rhyme with shearing
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shearing.
Questions about saying shearing
How do you pronounce shearing?
Say SHIR-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shearing?
Shearing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHIR). Broken into parts: SHIR · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say shearing the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.