How To Pronounce “she”

she

function word

Strong form

Used when emphasised or contrasted.

Phonemic

/ʃiː/

Phonetic

[ʃiː]

e.g. I said she, not he.

/aɪ.sedˈʃiː.nɒt.hiː/

Phonemic

/ʃiː/

e.g. I said she, not he.

/aɪ.sedˈʃiː.nɑːt.hiː/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/ʃi/

Phonetic

[ʃi]

e.g. Is she ready?

/ɪz.ʃiˈred.i/

Phonemic

/ʃi/

e.g. Is she ready?

/ɪz.ʃiˈred.i/

“she” is a function word, so it has more than one pronunciation. In normal connected speech the weak form is usual. The strong form is used when the word is stressed, said on its own or at the end of a phrase.

Strong form. In British English it is /ʃiː/, and in American English it is /ʃiː/. It is used when emphasised or contrasted.

Weak form. In British English it is /ʃi/, and in American English it is /ʃi/. It is used in connected speech.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Questions About She

How do you pronounce she in British English?

Strong form, /ʃiː/. Weak form, /ʃi/.

How do you pronounce she in American English?

Strong form, /ʃiː/. Weak form, /ʃi/.

What is the weak form of she?

The weak form of she is /ʃi/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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