How to pronounce smear
Say it like SMEER. Smear 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 smear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of smear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SMEER.
What does smear mean?
- A mark made by smearing.“This detergent cleans windows without leaving smears.”
- A presentation of a sauce, purée or other food item, which is placed in a dollop and spread across the plate.
- A false or unsupported, malicious statement intended to injure a person's reputation.“smear campaign”
- To spread (a substance, especially one that colors or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.“The artist smeared paint over the canvas in broad strokes.”
- To cover (a surface with a layer of some substance) by rubbing.“She smeared her lips with lipstick.”
- To make something dirty.
Where does smear come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian smeere, Dutch smeren (“to smear, lubricate”), Low German smeren, German schmieren (“to smear, lubricate”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål smøre (“to lubricate”), Norwegian Nynorsk smørja (“to lubricate”), Swedish
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with smear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of smear.
Questions about saying smear
How do you pronounce smear?
Say SMEER. The American pronunciation is /smɪr/. In British English it is /smɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smear?
Smear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SMEER.
Is smear 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 /smɪə/ (SMEER).