How to pronounce sore
Say it like SOR. Sore 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 sore. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sore pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of sore
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SAW.
What does sore mean?
- hurting“the tender spot on his jaw”
- causing misery or pain or distress“it was a sore trial to him”“the painful process of growing up”
- roused to anger“stayed huffy a good while”“she gets mad when you wake her up so early”
- an open skin infection
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sore
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sore.
Words that sound like sore
Questions about saying sore
How do you pronounce sore?
Say SOR. The American pronunciation is /sɔr/. In British English it is /sɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sore?
Sore is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SOR.
Is sore 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 /sɔː/ (SAW).
What words sound the same as sore?
Sore sounds the same as soar in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.