How to Pronounce "scheme"
The correct pronunciation of "scheme" is SKEEM /skiːm/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "SHEEM" habit for good.
scheme
/skiːm/A plan or arrangement, often an official programme or a sly plot.
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Record yourself saying “scheme” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "SHEEM" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'SHEEM' with a 'sh', or 'SKHEEM' with a breathy kh in the middle. | SKEEM /skiːm/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | One syllable (SKEEM). |
How Do You Pronounce "scheme"?
"scheme" is pronounced SKEEM /skiːm/. The stress is on the one syllable (SKEEM). As a noun, it means a plan or arrangement, often an official programme or a sly plot.
The 'sch' is 's' plus a hard 'k', not a 'sh' or a chair-'ch' — SKEEM, rhyming with 'team'.
Listen for the stressed syllable and copy its rhythm — getting the stress right matters more than any single sound.
Say "scheme" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
SKEEM — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
One syllable (SKEEM). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The 'sch' is 's' plus a hard 'k', not a 'sh' or a chair-'ch' — SKEEM, rhyming with 'team'.
Blend and repeat
Now say "scheme" at normal speed: SKEEM. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "scheme" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
ski → scheme
Both start with s plus a hard k; there is no sh sound.
NOT SHEEM — SKEEM
Say a clean s then a hard k, never a soft sh.
Say at speed: "The government launched a new scheme."
Keep the s-k crisp so it never softens to 'sheem'.
Why "scheme" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
The 'sch' cluster tempts a 'sh' sound, but in this Greek-root word it is a clean 's' followed by a hard k.
Tip: Blend 's' straight into a hard k, then 'eem': s-k-eem, like 'ski' with an m.
Hear “scheme” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
The government launched a new scheme.
It was a clever marketing scheme.
They cooked up a scheme to save money.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "scheme" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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