How to Pronounce SHOW UP: Stress, Linking & Natural Speech

SHOW UP means "to arrive" or "to appear" — a very common phrasal verb in everyday English.

Basic Pronunciation

Stress Pattern

Stress falls on UP:

• show = less stressed
• UP = main stress (louder, longer)

Say: "show UP" not "SHOW up"

Connected Speech

The /oʊ/ diphthong in "show" connects to the vowel /ʌ/ in "up" with a subtle /w/ glide:

• Written: show up
• Sounds like: "sho-WUP" /ʃoʊˈwʌp/

This is vowel-to-vowel linking with a /w/ glide (because "show" ends in a rounded vowel).

Practice Examples

The /ʃ/ Sound

"Show" begins with the /ʃ/ sound ("sh"):

How to make /ʃ/:

• Lips slightly rounded and pushed forward
• Tongue broad and raised toward the palate
• Air flows continuously (fricative)
• Voiceless (vocal cords don't vibrate)

The /oʊ/ Diphthong

"Show" contains the diphthong /oʊ/:

• Start with mid-back rounded vowel /o/
• Glide to /ʊ/ with more lip rounding

This is NOT a pure "o" sound like in Spanish — it's a gliding diphthong.

Different Meanings

1. Arrive

2. Appear/become visible

3. Embarrass someone (informal)

Separable Verb

SHOW UP is separable for the "embarrass" meaning:

• ✅ "She showed him up." (embarrassed him)
• ✅ "She showed up him." (less common)

But inseparable for "arrive":

• ✅ "He showed up late."

Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers

1. The /ʃ/ sound

Don't confuse /ʃ/ ("sh") with /tʃ/ ("ch"). "Show" is /ʃoʊ/, not /tʃoʊ/.

2. The /oʊ/ diphthong

Don't use a pure Spanish "o." English "show" glides from /o/ to /ʊ/.

3. The /ʌ/ in "up"

Remember: /ʌ/ is a central, unrounded vowel, not the Spanish "a."

Practice Sentences

1. "Did he show UP?" → /dɪd hi ʃoʊ ˈʌp/
2. "She always shows UP late." → /ʃi ˈɔːlweɪz ʃoʊz ˈʌp leɪt/
3. "I showed UP early." → /aɪ ʃoʊd ˈʌp ˈɝːli/
4. "Nobody showed UP." → /ˈnoʊbədi ʃoʊd ˈʌp/

Verb Forms

Common Expressions

Quick Summary

• Stress on UP: show UP
• /w/ glide links the vowels: "sho-WUP"
• Master the /ʃ/ ("sh") sound
• Use the /oʊ/ diphthong (not pure "o")
• Main meaning: arrive, appear

Next: How to pronounce HOLD ON.