4 syllables: Sew, ing, Ma, chine. Stress on Sew.
soh-ing-muh-SHEEN
/ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/
Sewing-Machine is pronounced soh-ing-muh-SHEEN (/ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/). It has four syllables (Sew-ing-Ma-chine), with the stress on "Sew". Sewing-Machine is a device that mechanizes the process of stitching fabric. It typically consists of a needle, bobbin, presser foot, and motor, enabling rapid, consistent stitch formation for sewing projects. The term refers to both the equipment used in textile production and domestic sewing contexts, often hyphenated in written form.
nounSewing-Machine is a device that mechanizes the process of stitching fabric. It typically consists of a needle, bobbin, presser foot, and motor, enabling rapid, consistent stitch formation for sewing projects. The term refers to both the equipment used in textile production and domestic sewing contexts, often hyphenated in written form.
How to Pronounce Sewing-Machine
"I repaired the torn sleeve with my trusty sewing-machine."
"The factory upgraded its sewing-machine fleet for faster production."
"She demonstrated how to thread the sewing-machine before starting."
Break it into two parts: 'sewing' /ˈsoʊɪŋ/ in US, /ˈsəʊɪŋ/ in UK/AU, and 'machine' /məˈʃiːn/. Stress falls on the first syllable of the second word: so- with the second part bearing the main accent: se-WING? Actually, the primary stress is on the first syllable of 'machine' in the compound, giving /ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ (US). In natural speech, you connect the boundary with a slight linking, so it sounds like /ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ (US), /ˈsəʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ (UK), and /ˈsɪːɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ (AU). Mouth positions: 'so' starts with a high back rounded vowel, then 'ʊ' or 'oʊ' glide, 'ŋ' nasal, followed by 'mə' with a schwa and a light 'm'. For the 'machine' part, 'm' bilabial, 'æ' or 'ə' depending on accent, then 'ʃ' (palato-alveolar fricative) and 'iːn' (long 'ee' plus nasal 'n'). Audio reference: consult a standard dictionary audio or pronunciation platform. IPA guide helps you lock the stress on məˈʃiːn.
Common errors: (1) stressing the wrong part—putting primary stress on 'sewing' instead of 'machine' or flattening the word to 'SO-ing-ME-shine'—correct by listening for the natural emphasis on the second word's first syllable: /məˈʃiːn/. (2) Slurring the boundary: you may run 'sewing' and 'machine' together too tightly, losing the distinct /mə/ and /ˈʃiːn/. Practice with slow, deliberate boundary. (3) Mispronouncing 'machine' as 'muh-sheen' or 'mach-heen'— correct by chunking into /məˈʃiːn/ with a clear schwa before the long /iː/. You’ll hear the difference when you model from native audio. Remember: 'sewing' uses /soʊɪŋ/ or /ˈsoʊɪŋ/, but the trailing syllable should not be swallowed; keep the /ŋ/ clear before /məˈʃiːn/.
US: /ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ with rhoticity, clear /r/ not present in 'sewing' but typical US intonation. UK: /ˈsəʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ with non-rhoticity; vowel in 'sewing' tends toward a pure /əʊ/ or /əʊ/; 'machine' still /məˈʃiːn/. AU: similar to UK but with slight vowel broadening in 'sewing' and a more relaxed vowel in 'machine' depending on region; often /ˈsɪːɪŋ/ or /ˈsəʊɪŋ/ for 'sewing' and /məˈʃiːn/ for 'machine/. All variants maintain the /ˈʃiːn/ ending; the major differences lie in the diphthongization of 'sew' and the rhotic presence. Pay attention to linking: US speakers often link /ŋ/ into the /mə/ of 'machine' more than UK/AU speakers.
Two main challenges: the initial 'sewing' includes a vowel cluster that can be mispronounced as /ˈsiːwɪŋ/ or /ˈsiːwɒŋ/ if you misplace the tongue; the transition to 'machine' requires a clean boundary from the nasal /ŋ/ to the /m/ without an abrupt stop, and the second word's /ˈʃiːn/ demands a precise palato-alveolar fricative followed by a long front vowel. Also, the stress pattern in this compound is non-obvious: primary stress is on the first syllable of the second word (/məˈʃiːn/), which can be overlooked in fast speech. Practice the boundary slowly to establish the correct rhythm.
There are no silent letters in standard pronunciations of 'sewing-machine.' The phonemes are /ˈsoʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/ (US) or the UK variant /ˈsəʊɪŋ məˈʃiːn/. The 'e' is not silent in 'sewing' as part of the diphthong; 'machine' uses /ʃ/ and the long /iː/ followed by /n/. However, learners sometimes treat the 'w' in 'sewing' as extraneous or skip the 'ŋ' at the end, which breaks the natural nasal sound. Keep the /ŋ/ sound crisp before the pause or transition to /məˈʃiːn/.
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The term sewing-machine originates from the combination of 'sewing' (the craft of joining fabrics with stitches) and 'machine' (an apparatus using mechanical power). 'Sewing' itself derives from Middle English sewien, from Old English sēwan, related to 'seam' and 'sew.' The first practical sewing machines appeared in the 19th century, with key developments by innovators like Elias Howe (1846) and Isaac Singer (1851). The word 'sewing' existed in English long before the machine; the compound likely emerged as manufacturers and marketers needed a named device to distinguish mechanized stitching from hand sewing. Over time, hyphenation varied, with many products marketed as 'sewing machine' or 'sewing-machine,' reflecting shifts in compound noun conventions and branding. Today, 'sewing-machine' commonly appears hyphenated in British usage and as two words or a hyphenated term in some cases in American contexts, depending on style guides and branding, though the default is often 'sewing machine' as two words. The concept spread worldwide with translations like 'machine à coudre' (French) and 'Máquina de coser' (Spanish). First known printed usage traces to mid-1800s trade materials and catalogs that advertised mechanized stitching as a revolutionary labor-saving device.
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Words that rhyme with "Sewing-Machine"
-ing sounds
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