What is short? Pronunciation and usage in English

short means . Learn how to pronounce and use short through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of short

shortadjective

/ʃɔːt/
Definition & pronunciation of short

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "short" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends on where you are in the US and Canada!

1. The Most Common American Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: /ˈʃɔrt/ (Sh-ort)
  • Breakdown:
    • “Sh”: Like in "ship" – a quick, sharp sound.
    • “or”: Similar to the "or" in "more" or "door." It's not a long "o" sound.
    • “t”: A simple "t" sound.

2. The Canadian Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: /sɔrt/ (S-ort)
  • Breakdown:
    • “S”: Like in "sun"
    • “or”: Similar to the “or” in "more" or "door."
    • “t”: A simple “t” sound.

Tips for Both Pronunciations:

  • Don't over-elongate the "or" sound: It’s a short, quick “or.” Over-elongating it makes it sound wrong.
  • Focus on the "sh" or “s” initial sound: Getting this right is crucial.

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

To help me give you the most accurate advice, would you tell me:

  • Where are you located (generally)? (e.g., United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word short in English

Let's break down how to use the word "short" in English. It’s a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Describing Length (Most Common)

  • Adjective: This is the most frequent use. It means having less length than expected or desirable.
    • Example: "The table is short – I can’t reach the top shelf."
    • Example: "He's a short man, about 5'6"."
    • Example: “The road was short and straight, leading directly to the coast.”

2. Being Without (Lack of Something)

  • Verb: To be without something, often money or a quantity.
    • Example: “I’m short on cash this month.” (Meaning "I don't have enough money.")
    • Example: “The recipe calls for 2 cups of flour, but I’m short one cup.”
    • Example: "The company is short on staff after several resignations." (Meaning "They don't have enough employees.")

3. Printing & Paper (Related to Size)

  • Adjective: Referring to the size of printed material.
    • Example: “The magazine was short this month, with fewer articles.”
    • Example: "This copy is short - I'll need to print another."

4. Games & Sports (Specifically Baseball & Cricket)

  • Verb: To deliver a ball that is too far for the batter to hit. (Primarily used in baseball and cricket)
    • Example: “The pitcher shorted the batter with that fastball.” (Meaning the pitch wasn’t thrown far enough.)
    • Example: “He shorted the ball on purpose, trying to get the batsman out.” (Cricket)

5. Time (Briefness)

  • Adjective: Describing something that lasts a short time.
    • Example: "It was a short meeting - we finished in 15 minutes.”
    • Example: "He only had a short break."

6. Other Less Common Uses

  • Adjective: (Informal) Of poor quality or usefulness. "This is a short cut - it doesn’t work!" (meaning unreliable)
  • Adjective: (Rare) Of a sharp angle.

Here’s a table summarizing the different meanings:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Adjective Length (short) “He’s a short boy.”
Verb Be without (short) “I’m short on time.”
Adjective Printing size (short) “The article was short.”
Verb Baseball/Cricket (short) “He shorted the ball.”
Adjective Briefness (short) “It was a short film.”

Tips for Using "Short" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of “short” changes dramatically depending on the sentence. Pay close attention to the surrounding words.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms to avoid repetition:
    • For length: tiny, little, small, brief
    • For lacking: lacking, deficient, incomplete, without

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What specifically are you struggling with when using the word "short"? (e.g., “I’m not sure when to use it as a verb vs. an adjective,” or “I don’t know when it means ‘lack of’”)

Synonyms for the word short

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