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How to pronounce "social"

social

Adjective
American
/ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/

Syllable Breakdown

so cial

How natives say social

British
/ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/

Syllable Breakdown

so cial

How natives say social

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound like in 'snake'.

  • Make the 'oh' sound similar to 'go'.

  • End with 'shul', with a soft 'sh' sound like in 'shoe'.

Common Mistakes

  • so-si-al

  • so-kal

  • sho-sial

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Begin with 's' sound like in 'snake'.

  • Produce 'əʊ' similar to 'no'.

  • Finish with 'shul', using a soft 'sh' sound like in 'sugar'.

common mistakes

  • so-si-al

  • so-kal

  • sho-cial

FAQ

Why is the 'c' pronounced as 'sh'?

In English, 'ci' often sounds like 'sh' before a vowel.

How many syllables are in 'social'?

It has two syllables: 'so-cial'.

Which syllable is stressed?

The first syllable 'so' is stressed.

Definition

social

Relating to society, friendly or communal.

Word Family

society

/səˈsaɪ.ə.ti/

noun

A group of people living together.

Example: We live in a diverse society.

sociable

/ˈsoʊ.ʃə.bəl/

adjective

Friendly; enjoys talking to people.

Example: She is very sociable.

socialize

/ˈsoʊ.ʃə.laɪz/

verb

To interact with others.

Example: They like to socialize during lunch.

Key Pronunciation Differences

'Social' has the 'sh' sound after 'o', while 'society' uses a 'sai' sound.

The word 'sociable' extends with '-ble' instead of '-cial'.

'Socialize' ends with '-lize' which adds a 'laiz' sound.

Pro Tips

Focus on the 'sh' sound

Make sure to pronounce 'sh' softly for clarity.

Stress the first syllable

In 'social', emphasize the 'so' to sound natural.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Social

advocacy

[ˈædvəkəsi]

alley

/ˈæ.li/

associate

/əˈsoʊʃiˌeɪt/

charitable

/ˈtʃær.ɪ.tə.bəl/

charity

/ˈtʃær.ɪ.ti/

citizen

/ˈsɪtɪzən/

city

/ˈsɪti/

civic

/ˈsɪvɪk/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

ability

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