How to pronounce sway
Say it like SWAY. Sway 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 sway. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sway pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of sway
American and British speakers say sway in essentially the same way: /sweɪ/ in the US and /sweɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SWAY.
What does sway mean?
- move back and forth or sideways“the ship was rocking”“the tall building swayed”
- move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner“He swung back”
- win approval or support for“Carry all before one”“His speech did not sway the voters”
- controlling influence
- pitching dangerously to one side
Where does sway come from?
The noun derived from the verb.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sway
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sway.
Questions about saying sway
How do you pronounce sway?
Say SWAY. The American pronunciation is /sweɪ/. In British English it is /sweɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sway?
Sway is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWAY.
Do Americans and Brits say sway the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sweɪ/ and the British form is /sweɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.