How to pronounce sliver
Say it like SLIV-er. Sliver has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sliver. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLIV
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sliver pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of sliver
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SLIV-uh.
What does sliver mean?
- A long piece cut or rent off; a sharp, slender fragment.
- Specifically, a splinter caught under the skin.
- A strand, or slender roll, of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted state, produced by a carding machine and ready for the roving or slubbing which precedes spinning.
- To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit.“to sliver wood”
Where does sliver come from?
From Middle English slivere, sliver from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave, split”), from Old English slīfan (as in tōslīfan (“to split, split up”)).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sliver
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sliver.
Questions about saying sliver
How do you pronounce sliver?
Say SLIV-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈslɪvɚ/. In British English it is /ˈslɪvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sliver?
Sliver has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLIV). Broken into parts: SLIV · er.
Is sliver pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈslɪvə/ (SLIV-uh).