How to pronounce swab
Say it like SWAHB. Swab 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 swab. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWAHB
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swab pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWAHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of swab
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: SWOB.
What does swab mean?
- To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.“swab the deck of a ship”
- A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access.
- A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).
- A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
Where does swab come from?
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle English swabber (“sailor detailed to swab decks”), from Middle Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning 'splash' or 'sway', also found as nautical G
Words that rhyme with swab
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swab.
Questions about saying swab
How do you pronounce swab?
Say SWAHB. The American pronunciation is /swɑb/. In British English it is /swɒb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swab?
Swab is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWAHB.
Is swab pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /swɒb/ (SWOB).