How To Pronounce “so”

so

function word

Strong form

Used in isolation, at the end of speech, or for emphasis.

Phonemic

/səʊ/

Phonetic

[səʊ]

e.g. I hope so.

/aɪ.həʊpˈsəʊ/

Phonemic

/soʊ/

e.g. I hope so.

/aɪ.hoʊpˈsoʊ/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/sə/

Phonetic

[sə]

e.g. He was so happy.

/hi.wəz.səˈhæp.i/

Phonemic

/sə/

e.g. He was so happy.

/hi.wəz.səˈhæp.i/

“so” 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 /səʊ/, and in American English it is /soʊ/. It is used in isolation, at the end of speech, or for emphasis.

Weak form. In British English it is /sə/, and in American English it is /sə/. 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 So

How do you pronounce so in British English?

Strong form, /səʊ/. Weak form, /sə/.

How do you pronounce so in American English?

Strong form, /soʊ/. Weak form, /sə/.

What is the weak form of so?

The weak form of so is /sə/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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