How to pronounce should
Say it like SHUUD. Should 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 should. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHUUD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Should pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHUUDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of should
American and British speakers say should in essentially the same way: /ʃʊd/ in the US and /ʃʊd/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHUUD.
What does should mean?
- simple past of shall How to pronounce shall“I told him that I should be busy tomorrow.”
- Used to issue an instruction (traditionally seen as carrying less force of authority than alternatives such as 'shall' or 'must').“You should never drink and drive.”
- Used to give advice or opinion that an action is, or would have been, beneficial or desirable.“You should go and see that film. I think you'll enjoy it.”
- With verbs such as 'see' or 'hear', usually in the second person, used to point out something remarkable in either a good or bad way.
- To suggest (that someone ought to do something, or that something ought to be the case) by, or as if by, using the word should.
Where does should come from?
The loss of /l/ in this word is probably due to weak stress, as in would and could (though in the latter, the /l/ was due to the analogy of the former two).
Words that rhyme with should
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of should.
Questions about saying should
How do you pronounce should?
Say SHUUD. The American pronunciation is /ʃʊd/. In British English it is /ʃʊd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in should?
Should is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SHUUD.
Do Americans and Brits say should the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʃʊd/ and the British form is /ʃʊd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.