How to pronounce shoestring
Say it like SHOO-string. Shoestring has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shoestring. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHOO
- string
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shoestring pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- stringKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of shoestring
American and British speakers say shoestring in essentially the same way: /ˈʃustrɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈʃuːstrɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHOO-string.
What does shoestring mean?
- The string or lace used to secure a shoe to the foot; a shoelace.“Your shoestring is untied.”
- An object that is long and thin, like a shoestring (sense 1).
- A long, narrow cut of a food; a julienne.“shoestring French fries”
- Of a catch or tackle: made near the ground, close to a player's shoes.
- To tackle (a player) using a shoestring tackle (“one made near the ground, close to a player's shoes”).
- To catch (a ball) using a shoestring catch (“one made near the ground, close to a player's shoes”).
Where does shoestring come from?
The noun is derived from shoe + string.
Questions about saying shoestring
How do you pronounce shoestring?
Say SHOO-string. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃustrɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈʃuːstrɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shoestring?
Shoestring has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOO). Broken into parts: SHOO · string.
Do Americans and Brits say shoestring the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃustrɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈʃuːstrɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.