How to pronounce sort
Say it like SORT. Sort is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- SORT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sort pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SORTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of sort
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SAWT.
What does sort mean?
- a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality“sculpture is a form of art”“what kinds of desserts are there?”
- an approximate definition or example“she wore a sort of magenta dress”“she served a creamy sort of dessert thing”
- a person of a particular character or nature“what sort of person is he?”“he's a good sort”
- examine in order to test suitability“screen these samples”“screen the job applicants”
- arrange or order by classes or categories“How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?”
Where does sort come from?
From Middle English sort, soort, sorte (cognate Dutch soort, German Sorte, Danish sort, Swedish sort), borrowed from Old French sorte (“class, kind”), from Latin sortem, accusative form of sors (“lot, fate, share, rank, category”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sort
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sort.
Questions about saying sort
How do you pronounce sort?
Say SORT. The American pronunciation is /sɔrt/. In British English it is /sɔːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sort?
Sort is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SORT.
Is sort 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 /sɔːt/ (SAWT).