Fluently
Log in
How to Say Sour: Pronunciation, Definition
Discover sour pronunciation, meaning, origin, alternatives and usage in common phrases to improve your language skills.
How to Pronounce Sour
Sour Pronunciation Guide
S sound: Begin by making the "s" sound like in the word "snake" or "see." Your tongue should be near your top front teeth, and you should push air out softly.
Diphthong sound (aʊ): Next, practice a smooth combination of vowels. Start by opening your mouth wide for the "ah" sound and then quickly change to a smaller, round shape for the "oo" sound as in "now" or "cow." This creates a sound like "ow."
R sound: Finally, finish with the "r" sound. Lightly curl your tongue upward toward the roof of your mouth without touching it, and let the sound blend with the previous sound.
Practice tip: Say the parts slowly—"s" then "ow" then "r"—and gradually speed up until it sounds natural. Try saying phrases like "the sour lemon" to improve fluidity.
Practice with
AI tutor
Speaking practice on real-life topics: job interviews, meetings, sales, pitch calls—whatever you need
What Does Sour Mean
Definition of Sour
Literal Meaning: Sour describes a taste that is sharp, tangy, or acidic. Foods like lemons, limes, and vinegar have a sour taste.
Other Meaning: Sour can also describe a mood or attitude. For example, if someone is sour, they might be upset or not in a good mood.
Usage: You can use sour to talk about the flavor of food or describe a person's feelings.
Examples in Context
Food Example: "This lemonade is sour because it has a lot of lemon juice." Here, sour means the drink tastes very tangy.
Mood Example: "After the bad news, he seemed sour all day." In this case, sour means he was in a bad mood.
Idiomatic Use: In the phrase "sour grapes," sour is used to suggest that someone pretends not to care about something they cannot have.
Definition of Sour
Literal Meaning: Sour describes a taste that is sharp, tangy, or acidic. Foods like lemons, limes, and vinegar have a sour taste.
Other Meaning: Sour can also describe a mood or attitude. For example, if someone is sour, they might be upset or not in a good mood.
Usage: You can use sour to talk about the flavor of food or describe a person's feelings.
Examples in Context
Food Example: "This lemonade is sour because it has a lot of lemon juice." Here, sour means the drink tastes very tangy.
Mood Example: "After the bad news, he seemed sour all day." In this case, sour means he was in a bad mood.
Idiomatic Use: In the phrase "sour grapes," sour is used to suggest that someone pretends not to care about something they cannot have.
The Origin of the Word Sour
Origin of the Word "Sour"
The word sour has a long history in the English language. Its journey began many centuries ago, and its meaning has grown over time. Initially, the word was used simply to describe something that has an acidic or tangy taste.
Old English: The word comes from the Old English term "sūr," which meant "acidic" or "bitter."
Proto-Germanic Roots: "Sūr" is linked to the Proto-Germanic word "*sūraz," a term used by ancient Germanic speakers to indicate a sharp or biting flavor.
Similar Words in Other Languages: Many related languages have a word like this. For example, Old Norse used "súrr," Dutch uses "zuur," and German uses "sauer" to describe a similar taste.
Expanded Meanings: Over the centuries, the meaning of "sour" broadened. Today, besides describing a taste, it can also describe moods or situations that feel unpleasant or harsh.
When you taste something sour, you notice a sharp, tangy sensation. This basic idea of a striking flavor helped form the foundation of the word. Its spread across different languages shows how fundamental the concept was to everyday life in early times.
Origin of the Word "Sour"
The word sour has a long history in the English language. Its journey began many centuries ago, and its meaning has grown over time. Initially, the word was used simply to describe something that has an acidic or tangy taste.
Old English: The word comes from the Old English term "sūr," which meant "acidic" or "bitter."
Proto-Germanic Roots: "Sūr" is linked to the Proto-Germanic word "*sūraz," a term used by ancient Germanic speakers to indicate a sharp or biting flavor.
Similar Words in Other Languages: Many related languages have a word like this. For example, Old Norse used "súrr," Dutch uses "zuur," and German uses "sauer" to describe a similar taste.
Expanded Meanings: Over the centuries, the meaning of "sour" broadened. Today, besides describing a taste, it can also describe moods or situations that feel unpleasant or harsh.
When you taste something sour, you notice a sharp, tangy sensation. This basic idea of a striking flavor helped form the foundation of the word. Its spread across different languages shows how fundamental the concept was to everyday life in early times.
What to Say Instead Sour
Tart
Similarity: Like "sour", "tart" describes a sharp, biting flavor often found in fruits and dairy products.
Usage: "The tart flavor of the rhubarb pie brightened the sweet dessert."
Tart
Similarity: Like "sour", "tart" describes a sharp, biting flavor often found in fruits and dairy products.
Usage: "The tart flavor of the rhubarb pie brightened the sweet dessert."
Acidic
Similarity: "Acidic" relates to a pronounced sour taste, stressing the presence of acid which causes the tanginess.
Usage: "The acidic hints in the vinaigrette elevated the salad’s overall flavor."
Acidic
Similarity: "Acidic" relates to a pronounced sour taste, stressing the presence of acid which causes the tanginess.
Usage: "The acidic hints in the vinaigrette elevated the salad’s overall flavor."
Tangy
Similarity: Both "sour" and "tangy" denote a zesty quality, often used to describe flavors that are lively and sharp.
Usage: "The tangy sauce added a delightful kick to the grilled chicken."
Tangy
Similarity: Both "sour" and "tangy" denote a zesty quality, often used to describe flavors that are lively and sharp.
Usage: "The tangy sauce added a delightful kick to the grilled chicken."
Vinegary
Similarity: "Vinegary" directly suggests the sourness characteristic of vinegar, akin to the primary trait of something sour.
Usage: "The dressing had a vinegary taste that perfectly complemented the salad greens."
Vinegary
Similarity: "Vinegary" directly suggests the sourness characteristic of vinegar, akin to the primary trait of something sour.
Usage: "The dressing had a vinegary taste that perfectly complemented the salad greens."
Acerbic
Similarity: Although "acerbic" can describe speech, when related to taste it signifies a biting, sour quality similar to harsh sourness.
Usage: "The acerbic tang of the citrus was both surprising and refreshing."
Acerbic
Similarity: Although "acerbic" can describe speech, when related to taste it signifies a biting, sour quality similar to harsh sourness.
Usage: "The acerbic tang of the citrus was both surprising and refreshing."
Bitter
Similarity: "Bitter" shares a close relationship with "sour" in that both can describe a sharp, unpleasant flavor, though bitter typically implies a less agreeable taste.
Usage: "The coffee had a bitter note that blended with its slight sour undertone."
Bitter
Similarity: "Bitter" shares a close relationship with "sour" in that both can describe a sharp, unpleasant flavor, though bitter typically implies a less agreeable taste.
Usage: "The coffee had a bitter note that blended with its slight sour undertone."
Common Phrases and Examples with Sour
1. The lemon tastes sour.
Explanation: This sentence shows 'sour' used to describe the taste of the lemon, meaning it is not sweet.
1. The lemon tastes sour.
Explanation: This sentence shows 'sour' used to describe the taste of the lemon, meaning it is not sweet.
2. The milk became sour after being left out too long.
Explanation: Here, 'sour' means that the milk spoiled and got a bad taste.
2. The milk became sour after being left out too long.
Explanation: Here, 'sour' means that the milk spoiled and got a bad taste.
3. His face looked sour when he heard the bad news.
Explanation: In this sentence, 'sour' is used to show that his expression turned unhappy.
3. His face looked sour when he heard the bad news.
Explanation: In this sentence, 'sour' is used to show that his expression turned unhappy.
4. She made a sour sound after tasting the bitter tea.
Explanation: This example uses 'sour' to describe the unpleasant sound she made because the tea tasted bad.
4. She made a sour sound after tasting the bitter tea.
Explanation: This example uses 'sour' to describe the unpleasant sound she made because the tea tasted bad.
5. The mood in the room turned sour after the argument started.
Explanation: Here, 'sour' describes the change in mood, meaning the atmosphere became unpleasant.
5. The mood in the room turned sour after the argument started.
Explanation: Here, 'sour' describes the change in mood, meaning the atmosphere became unpleasant.
6. The yogurt was too sour for my taste.
Explanation: In this sentence, 'sour' is used to express that the yogurt has a sharp, tangy taste that is not liked.
6. The yogurt was too sour for my taste.
Explanation: In this sentence, 'sour' is used to express that the yogurt has a sharp, tangy taste that is not liked.
Get your
real English level
Make a quick 4-minute call
with our AI tutor
and get your
English score for FREE
Get your real English level
Make a quick 4-minute call with our AI tutor
and get your English score for FREE
© 2025 Fluently Inc.