How to pronounce acquaintance
Say it like uh-KWAYN-tuns. Acquaintance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acquaintance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- KWAYN
- tuns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acquaintance pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KWAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of acquaintance
American and British speakers say acquaintance in essentially the same way: /əˈkweɪntəns/ in the US and /əˈkweɪntəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-KWAYN-tuns.
What does acquaintance mean?
- personal knowledge or information about someone or something
- a relationship less intimate than friendship
- a person with whom you are acquainted“I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances”“we are friends of the family”
Where does acquaintance come from?
Morphologically acquaint + -ance.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying acquaintance
How do you pronounce acquaintance?
Say uh-KWAYN-tuns. The American pronunciation is /əˈkweɪntəns/. In British English it is /əˈkweɪntəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acquaintance?
Acquaintance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWAYN). Broken into parts: uh · KWAYN · tuns.
Do Americans and Brits say acquaintance the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈkweɪntəns/ and the British form is /əˈkweɪntəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.