How to pronounce swarf
Say it like SWORF. Swarf 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 swarf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWORF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swarf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWORFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of swarf
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SWAWF.
What does swarf mean?
- The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive activity, such as metalworking, a saw cutting wood, or the use of a grindstone or whetstone.
- A particular waste chip or shaving.
- To grind down.
Where does swarf come from?
From Middle English *swarf, *swerf, from Old English ġeswearf, ġesweorf (“iron filings; rust”) and/or Old Norse svarf (“metallic dust”), both from Proto-Germanic *swarbą (“that which is rubbed off; shavings”), from Proto-Germanic *swerbaną
Words that rhyme with swarf
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swarf.
Questions about saying swarf
How do you pronounce swarf?
Say SWORF. The American pronunciation is /swɔrf/. In British English it is /swɔːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swarf?
Swarf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWORF.
Is swarf 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 /swɔːf/ (SWAWF).