Learn How to Pronounce sour
Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!
Find your word:
Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!
How to pronounce:
sour
Definition:
(nou) a cocktail made of a liquor (especially whiskey or gin) mixed with lemon or lime juice and sugar (nou) the taste experience when vinegar or lemon juice is taken into the mouth (nou) the property of being acidic
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈsaʊə
Examples:
The taste of this is mildly sour.
There is no list of the sour flavor of the jelly beans.
The flavor is described as somewhere between tangy and sour.
Learn more about:sour
Related Words:
How to perfect your pronunciation of: sour
Learn Individual Sounds
Break sour down into individual sounds such as ˈsaʊə. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.
Copy Others
Use the tools above to find out how different people say sour in their accents, then try to repeat after them.
Pick an Accent
Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.
Record Yourself
Say sour in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with sour.
Get a Native Tutor
Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.
Common mistakes of sour pronunciation
- Dropping the final "r": Many speakers omit the "r" sound at the end of "sour", pronouncing it as /ˈsaʊə/ in UK English. This can lead to confusion. Tip: Always emphasize the "r" sound in US English /ˈsaʊər/.
- Misplacing stress: Some learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "sour" as /saʊər/ instead of /ˈsaʊər/. This can change the word's clarity. Tip: Remember that the primary stress is on the first syllable.
- Confusing vowel sounds: The vowel sound in "sour" can be mispronounced as /oʊ/ instead of the correct diphthong /aʊ/. This mistake can lead to misunderstanding. Tip: Practice the diphthong by saying "how" and "cow" to get comfortable with the sound.
- Overemphasizing the "s": Some may pronounce "sour" with an exaggerated "s" sound, making it sound like "ssour". This isn't standard. Tip: Keep the "s" soft and smooth, as in /ˈsaʊər/, without adding extra emphasis.
- Mixing up with "sow": Learners might confuse "sour" with "sow", pronouncing it as /saʊ/ instead of /ˈsaʊər/. This can lead to miscommunication. Tip: Focus on the "r" sound at the end to distinguish between the two.