How To Pronounce “she'd”

she'd

function word

Strong form

Used when emphasised or contrasted.

Phonemic

/ʃiːd/

Phonetic

[ʃiːd̚]

e.g. I said she'd, not he'd.

/aɪ.sedˈʃiːd.nɒt.hiːd/

Phonemic

/ʃiːd/

e.g. I said she'd, not he'd.

/aɪ.sedˈʃiːd.nɑːt.hiːd/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/ʃɪd/

Phonetic

[ʃɪd̚]

e.g. She'd like tea.

/ʃɪd.laɪkˈtiː/

Phonemic

/ʃɪd/

e.g. She'd like tea.

/ʃɪd.laɪkˈtiː/

“she'd” 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 /ʃiːd/, and in American English it is /ʃiːd/. It is used when emphasised or contrasted.

Weak form. In British English it is /ʃɪd/, and in American English it is /ʃɪd/. 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'd

How do you pronounce she'd in British English?

Strong form, /ʃiːd/. Weak form, /ʃɪd/.

How do you pronounce she'd in American English?

Strong form, /ʃiːd/. Weak form, /ʃɪd/.

What is the weak form of she'd?

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

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