How to pronounce "swim"

swim

Sports & Recreation
American
/swɪm/

Syllable Breakdown

swim

How natives say swim

British
/swɪm/

Syllable Breakdown

swim

How natives say swim

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

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

  • Move to a 'w' sound, rounding your lips slightly.

  • Finish with a short 'i' sound, like in 'sit', followed by an 'm' sound.

Common Mistakes

  • su-wim

  • sw-eem

  • swee-am

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 's' sound, similar to saying 'sun'.

  • Move into the 'w' sound, rounding your lips slightly.

  • End with a short 'i' sound as in 'bit', followed by an 'm' sound.

common mistakes

  • su-wim

  • sw-eem

  • swee-am

FAQ

How do I avoid saying 'su-wim'?

Focus on blending 's' directly into 'w' without an extra vowel sound.

Why does it sometimes sound like 'sweem'?

Ensure the 'i' sound is short, like in 'sit', not prolonged.

Is 'swim' a single syllable?

Yes, 'swim' is a single syllable word.

Definition

swim

To move through water by using arms and legs.

Word Family

swimmer

/ˈswɪmər/

noun

A person who swims

Example: She is a fast swimmer.

swimming

/ˈswɪmɪŋ/

noun

The activity of moving through water

Example: Swimming is my hobby.

swam

/swæm/

verb

Past tense of swim

Example: He swam across the lake.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Swimmer adds 'er', making it two syllables.

Swimming replaces 'im' with 'ing', altering the end sound.

Swam changes the middle sound to 'æ', different vowel.

Pro Tips

Blend sounds

Practice blending the 's' and 'w' without pausing.

Vowel clarity

Keep the 'i' sound short and crisp.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Swim

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