How to pronounce acid
Say it like AS-ud. Acid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acid. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AS
- ud
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acid pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- udKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of acid
American and British speakers say acid in essentially the same way: /ˈæsəd/ in the US and /ˈæsɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: AS-id.
What does acid mean?
- any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
- street name for lysergic acid diethylamide
- harsh or corrosive in tone“an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”“a barrage of acid comments”
- being sour to the taste
- having the characteristics of an acid“an acid reaction”
Where does acid come from?
From French acide, from Latin acidus (“sour, acid”), from aceō (“to be sour”).
Questions about saying acid
How do you pronounce acid?
Say AS-ud. The American pronunciation is /ˈæsəd/. In British English it is /ˈæsɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acid?
Acid has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AS). Broken into parts: AS · ud.
Do Americans and Brits say acid the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæsəd/ and the British form is /ˈæsɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.