How to pronounce “software”
Say “software” in 2 beats
software
/ˈsɔfˌtwɛɹ/
The voice you hear here is American; the British form is /sɒftweə/ (see the table below), and a British voice is available in the app's settings.
- sɔfsɔfstress
- twɛɹtwɛɹ
- IPA (American)
- /ˈsɔfˌtwɛɹ/
- IPA (British)
- /sɒftweə/
- Also accepted
- /ˈsɔfˌwɛɹ/
- Respelling
- SAWF-twer
- Syllables
- 2 — SƆF-twɛɹ
- Stress
- Stress the first syllable: SƆF-twɛɹ. “sɔf” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
- Part of speech
- noun
- Difficulty
- Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
American and British are not the same here
/ˈsɔfˌtwɛɹ/
/sɒftweə/
No audio here: sayit’s voice is American, so a British button would play the American word. Read the transcription instead.
What “software” means
- noun
(computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory
“the market for software is expected to expand”
Say it in a sentence
“The software updates itself quietly in the background.”“software”, answered
How do you pronounce “software”?
“software” is pronounced /ˈsɔfˌtwɛɹ/ (SAWF-twer) in American English and /sɒftweə/ in British English, and /ˈsɔfˌwɛɹ/ is also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “sɔf”. Build it as SƆF-twɛɹ, then run the first syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.
How many syllables does “software” have?
2: sɔf · twɛɹ. The beat lands on the first, “sɔf”.
Is “software” said differently in British English?
Yes. American English says /ˈsɔfˌtwɛɹ/ (SAWF-twer); British English says /sɒftweə/. Both are correct — choose the accent you are learning and stay inside it.
What does “software” mean?
As a noun: (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory For example: “the market for software is expected to expand”
Where is the stress in “software”?
Stress the first syllable: SƆF-twɛɹ. “sɔf” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
Now say “software” and see every sound
Record it once and sayit lines your audio up against the target sound by sound — what landed, what slipped, and what it sounded like instead.