How to pronounce sideways
Say it like SY-dwayz. Sideways has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sideways. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SY
- dwayz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sideways pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- dwayzGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of sideways
American and British speakers say sideways in essentially the same way: /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/ in the US and /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: SY-dwayz.
What does sideways mean?
- (of movement) at an angle
- with one side forward or to the front“turned sideways to show the profile”“crabs seeming to walk sidewise”
- from the side; obliquely“a picture lit sideways”“scenes viewed sidewise”
- toward one side“the car slipped sideways into the ditch”“leaning sideways”
Where does sideways come from?
From side + -ways.
Questions about saying sideways
How do you pronounce sideways?
Say SY-dwayz. The American pronunciation is /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/. In British English it is /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sideways?
Sideways has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SY). Broken into parts: SY · dwayz.
Do Americans and Brits say sideways the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/ and the British form is /ˈsaɪˌdweɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.