How to pronounce sugar
Say it like SHUUG-er. Sugar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHUUG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sugar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHUUG
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sugar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHUUGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of sugar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SHUUG-uh.
What does sugar mean?
- a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
- an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain
- informal terms for money
- sweeten with sugar“sugar your tea”
Where does sugar come from?
The verb is from Middle English sugren, from the noun.
Words that rhyme with sugar
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sugar.
Questions about saying sugar
How do you pronounce sugar?
Say SHUUG-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃʊɡɚ/. In British English it is /ˈʃʊɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sugar?
Sugar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHUUG). Broken into parts: SHUUG · er.
Is sugar 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 /ˈʃʊɡə/ (SHUUG-uh).