How to pronounce soldier
Say it like SOHL-jer. Soldier has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce soldier. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOHL
- jer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soldier pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- jerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of soldier
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOHL-juh.
What does soldier mean?
- an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army“the soldiers stood at attention”
- a wingless sterile ant or termite having a large head and powerful jaws adapted for defending the colony
- serve as a soldier in the military
Where does soldier come from?
(red herring): An allusion to soldiers' red uniforms; red herring is, reciprocally, a slang term for "soldier".
Questions about saying soldier
How do you pronounce soldier?
Say SOHL-jer. The American pronunciation is /ˈsoʊldʒɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsəʊldʒə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in soldier?
Soldier has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOHL). Broken into parts: SOHL · jer.
Is soldier 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 /ˈsəʊldʒə/ (SOHL-juh).