How to pronounce "swell"

swell

Sports & Recreation
American
/swɛl/

Syllable Breakdown

swell

How natives say swell

British
/swɛl/

Syllable Breakdown

swell

How natives say swell

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound by placing the tongue against the back of the teeth.

  • Move on to the 'w' sound by rounding your lips.

  • End with the 'ell' by opening your mouth slightly and placing your tongue low in your mouth.

Common Mistakes

  • swill (sw-ill)

  • swelll (swe-lll)

  • s-well (s - well)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound by placing the tongue against the back of the teeth.

  • Move on to the 'w' sound by rounding your lips.

  • End with the 'ell' by opening your mouth slightly and placing your tongue low in your mouth.

common mistakes

  • swill (sw-ill)

  • swelll (swe-lll)

  • s-well (s - well)

FAQ

How many syllables are in 'swell'?

It has one syllable.

Is the 's' in 'swell' silent?

No, the 's' is pronounced.

Is the 'w' in 'swell' a strong sound?

Yes, it requires rounding your lips.

Definition

swell

To increase in size or volume; great or delightful.

Word Family

swollen

/ˈswoʊlən/

adjective

Increased in size

Example: Her ankle is swollen.

swelling

/ˈswɛlɪŋ/

noun

The act of swelling

Example: The swelling went down overnight.

swellable

/ˈswɛləbl/

adjective

Able to swell

Example: This material is swellable with moisture.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Swell and swollen

- 'swell' has one syllable, 'swollen' has two.

Swell and swelling

- 'swell' is a single syllable; 'swelling' adds an 'ing' sound.

Swell and swellable

- 'swell' is short; 'swellable' extends with 'əbl' sound.

Pro Tips

Practice with Lip Rounding

Ensure you round your lips properly for the 'w' sound.

Watch for Added Syllables

Be careful not to add an extra syllable after 'swell'.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Swell

adventure

/ədˈvɛntʃər/

amateur

/ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ/

appeal

/əˈpil/

appreciate

/əˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

athlete

/ˈæθ.liːt/

ball

/bɔl/

basin

/ˈbeɪ.sən/

basket

/ˈbæskɪt/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

ability

agenda