Pronunciation

How to pronounce “self

“self” is pronounced /sɛlf/ (SELF) — one syllable.
The sound

Say “self” in one beat

Say it like this

self

/sɛlf/

The voice you hear here is American; a British voice is available in the app's settings.

1 beat
  1. selfsɛlf
IPA (American)
/sɛlf/
IPA (British)
/sɛlf/
Respelling
SELF
Syllables
1 — self
Stress
One syllable, so the whole word carries the beat — say /sɛlf/ in one unbroken piece rather than clipping the vowel.
Part of speech
noun, adjective
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Meaning

What “self” means

  1. noun

    your consciousness of your own identity

  2. noun

    a person considered as a unique individual

    one's own self

  3. adjective

    (used as a combining form) relating to--of or by or to or from or for--the self

    self-knowledge

Say it in a sentence

She has always had a strong sense of self.
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

4 sounds, in the order you say them

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

self”, answered

How do you pronounce “self”?

“self” is pronounced /sɛlf/ (SELF) — one syllable. It is one unbroken piece — /sɛlf/ — with no pause anywhere inside it.

How many syllables does “self” have?

One, despite the 1 vowel letters in the spelling. The whole word is /sɛlf/ — a single beat.

What does “self” mean?

As a noun: your consciousness of your own identity For example: “She has always had a strong sense of self.” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “self”?

One syllable, so the whole word carries the beat — say /sɛlf/ in one unbroken piece rather than clipping the vowel.

Practise this word

Now say “self” and see every sound

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