How to pronounce shoo
Say it like SHOO. Shoo 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 shoo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shoo 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.
American vs British pronunciation of shoo
American and British speakers say shoo in essentially the same way: /ʃu/ in the US and /ʃuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHOO.
What does shoo mean?
- To induce someone or something to leave.“Don't just shoo away mosquitoes, kill them!”
- To leave under inducement.“You kids had better shoo before your parents get a call.”
- To usher someone.“Shoo the visitor in.”
- Go away! Clear off!“Shoo, fly, don't bother me!”
- Alternative form of she.
Where does shoo come from?
From Middle English schew, schowe, show, showe, scou (“shoo!”, interjection).
Words that rhyme with shoo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shoo.
Words that sound like shoo
Questions about saying shoo
How do you pronounce shoo?
Say SHOO. The American pronunciation is /ʃu/. In British English it is /ʃuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shoo?
Shoo is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SHOO.
Do Americans and Brits say shoo the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʃu/ and the British form is /ʃuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as shoo?
Shoo sounds the same as shoe in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.