2 syllables: Sha, llow. Stress on Sha.
SHAL-oh
/ˈʃæloʊ/
Shallow is pronounced SHAL-oh (/ˈʃæloʊ/). It has two syllables (Sha-llow), with the stress on "Sha". Shallow is an adjective describing a small depth or lack of depth in a physical sense or in understanding. It refers to something not deep, either literally (low depth) or metaphorically (superficial or lacking in substance). In everyday use, it can describe water, opinions, or thinking that misses or avoids deeper consideration. The term often contrasts with deep, profound, or thoughtful.
adjectiveShallow is an adjective describing a small depth or lack of depth in a physical sense or in understanding. It refers to something not deep, either literally (low depth) or metaphorically (superficial or lacking in substance). In everyday use, it can describe water, opinions, or thinking that misses or avoids deeper consideration. The term often contrasts with deep, profound, or thoughtful.
- Confusing the first vowel with a more centralized sound; keep /æ/ as in 'cat' rather than a schwa. - Shortening the second syllable; ensure the /oʊ/ is long and rounded, not a quick /o/. - In some dialects, merging the two syllables; practice separating them with a short pause between /æ/ and /loʊ/ to maintain two-syllable rhythm.
"The shallow end of the pool is perfect for beginners."
"Her reasoning was shallow, lacking evidence and nuance."
"We argued about the shallow water near the shore."
You pronounce it as SHAL-oh, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈʃæ.loʊ/ or /ˈʃaɪ.loʊ/ in some dialects, UK /ˈʃæ.ləʊ/, AU /ˈʃæ.ləʊ/. Open front lax vowel in the first syllable for US/UK accents; the second syllable is a stable /loʊ/ or /ləʊ/ with a long O. Mouth: start with a wide smile, lips unrounded, then glide into a rounded mouth for the second syllable.
Common errors include reducing the first vowel to a schwa /ə/ or using an /æ/ in a way that sounds like ‘shə-LO’. Another pitfall is the second syllable: many speakers shorten /loʊ/ to /lɒ/ or /lə/, losing the long vowel quality. Correction: keep the first vowel as /æ/ (as in ‘cat’) for US/UK, ensure the second syllable has a clear long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ by gliding from /l/ to /oʊ/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘shallow’ vs ‘shallowly’ to lock in the two-syllable rhythm.
In US English, /ˈʃæloʊ/ tends to have a stronger /æ/ in the first syllable with a clear /oʊ/ in the second. UK English often features a shorter /æ/ and a lighter, more crisp /ləʊ/ or /ləu/ with non-rhoticity, sometimes yielding /ˈʃæləʊ/. Australian accents typically mirror UK vowel timing but may have a slightly broader /æ/ and a postvocalic /l/ that's less velarized, producing /ˈʃæləʊ/. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality differ subtly, but the two-syllable rhythm remains consistent.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the two distinct syllables with a clear diphthong in the second syllable and a short, lax vowel in the first. For many, the /æ/ in the first syllable can sound too forward or merge with the /ɪ/ in adjacent words; also, many speakers reduce /ˈʃæləʊ/ to /ˈʃalo/ or mispronounce the second syllable as /əl/. Focus on holding the /æ/ for the first vowel and forming the long /oʊ/ glide in the second.
A unique feature is the transition between the consonant cluster /ʃ/ and the open front unrounded vowel /æ/. The /ʃ/ requires a tight tongue blade near the palate, followed by a sudden lax /æ/ that sits between tense and lax vowels, then a smooth /l/ before the glide to /oʊ/. This precise segmental timing is essential to avoid sounding like ‘shallow’ with a reduced second syllable or merging into a single syllable.
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- US: Emphasize the /æ/ in the first syllable; keep /oʊ/ as a clear diphthong. Non-rhotic tendencies in some US regions can affect the final r-lessness; focus on the vowel quality rather than rhoticity. - UK: Shorter first vowel; crisp /ləʊ/ with less diphthongal drawl; ensure non-rhoticity keeps syllables distinct. - AU: Similar to UK but with slightly broader vowel qualities; the /æ/ may sound more open; practice a clear /ə/ in connected speech when the second syllable is unstressed. IPA references provided for each.
Shallow comes from Old English scealdan, influenced by shal or shel, connected to the Proto-Germanic skal- meaning ‘to cover or cover with a shallow layer’ and later evolving in Middle English to describe a small depth or inadequacy. The semantic shift extended from physical depth to figurative depth, mirroring a long-held Indo-European tendency to map spatial metaphors onto cognitive traits. By the 14th century, shallow described bodies of water with little depth and, over time, attitudes and explanations of limited complexity began to be called shallow as well. In Early Modern English, the sense broadened to describe surfaces and ideas that lack sophistication or depth, culminating in modern usage as a general term for superficiality in both tangible and abstract contexts. First known written uses appear in Middle English texts where water depth and metaphorical shallow thinking intersected in describing marshy or barely submerged terrain alongside surface-level judgments.
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Help others use "Shallow" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Shallow" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Shallow" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Shallow"
-low sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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