How to pronounce shut
Say it like SHUHT. Shut 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 shut. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHUHT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shut pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of shut
American and British speakers say shut in essentially the same way: /ʃʌt/ in the US and /ʃʌt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHUHT.
What does shut mean?
- move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut“Close the door”“shut the window”
- become closed“The windows closed with a loud bang”
- prevent from entering; shut out“The trees were shutting out all sunlight”“This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country”
- not open“the door slammed shut”
- used especially of mouth or eyes“he sat quietly with closed eyes”“his eyes were shut against the sunlight”
Where does shut come from?
Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with shut
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shut.
Questions about saying shut
How do you pronounce shut?
Say SHUHT. The American pronunciation is /ʃʌt/. In British English it is /ʃʌt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shut?
Shut is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SHUHT.
Do Americans and Brits say shut the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʃʌt/ and the British form is /ʃʌt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.