How to pronounce sparrow
Say it like SPER-oh. Sparrow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sparrow. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPER
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sparrow pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of sparrow
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SPAR-oh.
What does sparrow mean?
- The house sparrow, Passer domesticus; a small bird with a short bill, and brown, white and gray feathers.
- A member of the family Passeridae, comprising small Old World songbirds.
- A member of the family Passerellidae (or Emberizidae, under classification systems that subsume the New World sparrows under Emberizidae), comprising small New World songbirds.
Where does sparrow come from?
Cognate with Yola sparrowe (“sparrow”), North Frisian sparag, spåri (“sparrow”), Saterland Frisian Spräie (“sparrow”), Alemannic German and Luxembourgish Spatz (“sparrow”), Dutch spreeuw (“starling”), German Spatz, Sperling (“sparrow”), Vil
Words that rhyme with sparrow
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sparrow.
Questions about saying sparrow
How do you pronounce sparrow?
Say SPER-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈspɛroʊ/. In British English it is /ˈspærəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sparrow?
Sparrow has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPER). Broken into parts: SPER · oh.
Is sparrow 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 /ˈspærəʊ/ (SPAR-oh).