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Why "schedule" sounds different in British English
The traditional British pronunciation is /ˈʃedjuːl/, starting with sh and with a small y sound before the "oo". American English uses /ˈskedʒuːl/, starting with sk, like "school", and with a "j" in the middle.
The British form follows the French origin of the word (cédule). Under American influence, many younger British speakers now say "SKED-yool" too, and both are accepted in the UK, but "SHED-yool" remains the classic British pronunciation and sounds unmistakably British.
How to say "schedule" like a Brit, step by step
- Start with sh, as in "shed", not "sk".
- Say a short e: shed.
- Add a light y glide: yool. Keep the D and Y separate rather than merging them into "j".
- Stress the first syllable: SHED-yool.
Practise "schedule" in a sentence
- Let me check my schedule for next week.
- The train is running behind schedule.
- We need to reschedule the meeting.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce schedule in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, schedule is pronounced /ˈʃedjuːl/, roughly "SHED-yool". It starts with "sh", and a light "y" comes before the "ool".
Is the American pronunciation of schedule wrong?
No. /ˈskedʒuːl/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˈʃedjuːl/.
Do British people say SKED-yool?
Some do, especially younger speakers, and it is not considered wrong in the UK. The traditional and still very common British pronunciation is SHED-yool, which is what dictionaries list first for British English.