How to pronounce access
Say it like AK-ses. Access has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce access. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AK
- ses
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Access pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sesGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of access
American and British speakers say access in essentially the same way: /ˈækˌsɛs/ in the US and /ˈækˌsɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: AK-ses.
What does access mean?
- the right to enter
- the right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership)
- a way of entering or leaving“he took a wrong turn on the access to the bridge”
- obtain or retrieve from a storage device; as of information on a computer
- reach or gain access to“How does one access the attic in this house?”“I cannot get to the T.V. antenna, even if I climb on the roof”
Where does access come from?
From Middle English accesse, acces, borrowed from Middle French acces (“attack, onslaught”) or from its source Latin accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach; accede”), from ad (“to, toward, at”) + cēdō (“move, yield”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying access
How do you pronounce access?
Say AK-ses. The American pronunciation is /ˈækˌsɛs/. In British English it is /ˈækˌsɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in access?
Access has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK). Broken into parts: AK · ses.
Do Americans and Brits say access the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈækˌsɛs/ and the British form is /ˈækˌsɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.