How to pronounce this
Say it like this. This is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- this
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
This pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- thisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of this
American and British speakers say this in essentially the same way: /ðɪs/ in the US and /ðɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: this.
What does this mean?
- The (thing) here (used in indicating something or someone nearby).“This classroom is where I learned to read and write.”
- Referring to oneself.
- The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone just mentioned).“They give the appearance of knowing what they're doing. It's this appearance that lets them get away with so much.”
- To the degree or extent indicated.“I need this much water.”
- The thing, item, etc. being indicated.“This isn't the item that I ordered.”
Where does this come from?
Cognate with Scots this (“this”), Saterland Frisian dusse (“this”), West Frisian dizze (“this”), German dies, dieses (“this”), Old Gutnish þissi (“this”).
Words that sound like this
- this'
Questions about saying this
How do you pronounce this?
Say this. The American pronunciation is /ðɪs/. In British English it is /ðɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in this?
This is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: this.
Do Americans and Brits say this the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ðɪs/ and the British form is /ðɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as this?
This sounds the same as this' in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.