One syllable: Sew.
soh
/soʊ/
Sew is pronounced soh (/soʊ/). It has one syllable (Sew), with the stress on "Sew". Sew, as a noun, refers to the act or process of joining with needle and thread, or the place where fabric is sewn. It represents the craft of stitching and the resulting seam. In expertise terms, it can imply a sewn item’s finishing and the technique used to secure fabric edges.
nounSew, as a noun, refers to the act or process of joining with needle and thread, or the place where fabric is sewn. It represents the craft of stitching and the resulting seam. In expertise terms, it can imply a sewn item’s finishing and the technique used to secure fabric edges.
Actionable tips: practice in isolation with a mirror to observe lip rounding, then in words (sew, sew-on, sewing). Use minimal pairs like sew/so and sew/sow to feel contrasts. Record yourself and compare to reference pronunciations; aim for a steady /soʊ/ or /səʊ/ depending on your accent.
"She learned to sew by hand and now creates intricate jackets."
"The seam along the hem needs to be even and tight when you sew."
"He found a loose sew near the zipper and fixed it by resewing."
Sew is pronounced as /soʊ/ in most dialects, with a long O vowel. In US English you’ll hear a strong diphthong /oʊ/ starting mid-back and gliding to a high vowel. In UK/AU, it’s commonly /səʊ/ with a centering or clipped vowel before the final /ʊ/-like glide. Mouth position: start with lips rounded, jaw relaxed, transition into a rounded, high back vowel; end with a slight closing of the lips as you glide. Think “so” as in sew a seam. IPA reference: US /soʊ/, UK /səʊ/, AU /səʊ/.
Common mistakes: (1) pronouncing it as crotchet-like /si/ or /suː/ instead of /soʊ/. (2) Overemphasizing the first consonant and misplacing the lip rounding, turning it into /sɜː/ or /sɔː/. (3) Skipping the glide and ending with a pure monophthong; you should glide from /o/ to a crisp /ʊ/ like /oʊ/. Correction tips: relax your jaw, start with a round lip shape, produce a clear /oʊ/ glide, and finish with a gentle seal of the lips. Practice with minimal pair drills (so /soʊ/ vs sow /saʊ/ if misheard) to feel the difference.
US English favors a strong /oʊ/ diphthong: /soʊ/, with less centering vowel than British. UK English often shows /səʊ/ with a central or schwa-like onset and a longer /əʊ/ glide, and may be less rhotic, especially in some southern British dialects. Australian English sits between US and UK: /səʊ/ or /soʊ/ with a similar glide; vowel quality can be shorter and less precise, but the /ʊ/ offglide remains. Overall: US rhoticity affects the following vowel quality in connected speech; UK accents can have stronger vowel elongation or vowel reduction in unstressed contexts. IPA references: US /soʊ/, UK /səʊ/, AU /səʊ/.
The difficulty stems from the diphthong /oʊ/ which requires a precise glide from an open-mid back position to a close back position, plus lip rounding throughout. For non-native speakers, the issue is often starting with an incorrect vowel (like /ɪ/ or /uː/) or neglecting the glide, producing a monophthong. Consistent pronunciation uses a relaxed jaw and rounded lips from start to finish, with a clear, audible glide. In some accents, the /əʊ/ realization in /səʊ/ adds a centering element that can confuse learners who expect a hard /o/.
Sew’s identity hinges on the diphthong and tongue shape. The first segment is a light, rounded onset with the tongue high-back enough to maintain the /o/ quality, then it slides to a higher position without a separate consonant release. This can be confused with sew-in or sow (to plant). Remember: sew is a single syllable, with a single vowel contour /oʊ/. Emphasize the continuous glide rather than breaking it into two sounds; keep the consonant /s/ crisp but not overly forceful.
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Sew comes from the Old English word sēwan, which shares roots with the Proto-Germanic sēwanan, meaning to sew or stitch. It is cognate with Dutch sewen and German nähen, reflecting the shared Germanic heritage for stitching actions. The sense of 'to join fabric with thread' emerged in early medieval textile practices as households domesticated sewing crafts for clothing and sails. By the Middle Ages, sew had diversified into meanings associated with types of stitches and techniques (backstitch, running stitch, hemming). The verb and noun forms developed as English speakers described both the act and the result of stitching. The spelling with -ew reflects the long vowel shift and morphological standardization that consolidated around the late 17th to 18th centuries. In modern usage, sew retains strong ties to craft, tailoring, and fashion, while also appearing in expressions like “to sew up a deal” metaphorically. First known written appearances are found in early English sewing manuals and household accounts, which solidified the term’s dual functional roles in textile practice and everyday language.
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Help others use "Sew" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sew" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sew" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Sew"
-rew sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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