How to pronounce absentia
Say it like ab-SEN-shuh. Absentia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce absentia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ab
- SEN
- shuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Absentia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- abKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of absentia
American and British speakers say absentia in essentially the same way: /æbˈsɛnʃə/ in the US and /æbˈsɛnʃə/ in the UK.
British respelling: ab-SEN-shuh.
What does absentia mean?
- absence
Where does absentia come from?
From Latin absentia (“being away, absence”), from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”); compare absent.
Questions about saying absentia
How do you pronounce absentia?
Say ab-SEN-shuh. The American pronunciation is /æbˈsɛnʃə/. In British English it is /æbˈsɛnʃə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in absentia?
Absentia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: ab · SEN · shuh.
Do Americans and Brits say absentia the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /æbˈsɛnʃə/ and the British form is /æbˈsɛnʃə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.