How to pronounce so
Say it like SOH. So 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 so. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
So pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of so
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOH.
What does so mean?
- to a very great extent or degree“the idea is so obvious”“never been so happy”
- in a manner that facilitates“he observed the snakes so he could describe their behavior”“he stooped down so he could pick up his hat”
- in such a condition or manner, especially as expressed or implied“They're happy and I hope they will remain so”“so live your life that old age will bring no regrets”
- the syllable naming the fifth (dominant) note of any musical scale in solmization
Where does so come from?
From Middle English so, swo, zuo, swa, swe, from Old English swā, swǣ, swē (“so, as, the same, such, that”), from Proto-West Germanic *swā, from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē (“so”), from Proto-Indo-European *swē, *swō (reflexive pronomial stem).
Words that rhyme with so
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of so.
Words that sound like so
Questions about saying so
How do you pronounce so?
Say SOH. The American pronunciation is /soʊ/. In British English it is /səʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in so?
So is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SOH.
Is so pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /səʊ/ (SOH).
What words sound the same as so?
So sounds the same as sew, sow in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.