How to pronounce swear
Say it like SWAIR. Swear 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 swear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of swear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SWAIR.
What does swear mean?
- utter obscenities or profanities“The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street”
- to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true“Before God I swear I am innocent”
- promise solemnly; take an oath
Where does swear come from?
The original sense in all Germanic languages is “to take an oath”.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- curse
- cuss
Words that rhyme with swear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swear.
Questions about saying swear
How do you pronounce swear?
Say SWAIR. The American pronunciation is /swɛr/. In British English it is /swɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swear?
Swear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWAIR.
Is swear 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 /swɛə/ (SWAIR).