Learn How to Pronounce swallow
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How to pronounce:
swallow
Definition:
(nou) a small amount of liquid food (nou) the act of swallowing (nou) small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈswɒləʊ
Examples:
It's the nostalgia that's hard to swallow.
They were reluctant to swallow.
This is hard to swallow truth.
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Common mistakes of swallow pronunciation
- Misplacing the stress: Some learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "swa-ˈloʊ" instead of the correct "ˈswɑː.loʊ" (US) or "ˈswɒ.ləʊ" (UK). Tip: Remember that the primary stress is on the first syllable "swal".
- Vowel confusion: A common mistake is pronouncing the first vowel as "e" instead of the correct "a". This leads to "sew-ˈloʊ" instead of "ˈswɑː.loʊ". Tip: Focus on the "a" sound in "swallow" as in "cat".
- Dropping the final sound: Some speakers omit the "l" sound, pronouncing it as "swa-wo" instead of "swal-lo". Tip: Practice the "l" by emphasizing it at the end of the word to maintain clarity.
- Incorrect syllable division: Learners might say "swal-low" with a pause between the syllables rather than smoothly connecting them. Tip: Blend the two syllables together to sound more natural: "swallo".
- Mispronouncing the "w": Some may pronounce the "w" as "v", saying "sval-lo" instead of "swal-lo". Tip: Ensure your lips come together to form the "w" sound, as in "water".