How to pronounce acquiesce
Say it like ak-wee-ES. Acquiesce has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acquiesce. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ak
- wee
- ES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acquiesce pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- akGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- weeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of acquiesce
American and British speakers say acquiesce in essentially the same way: /ˌækwiˈɛs/ in the US and /ˌækwɪˈɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: ak-wih-ES.
What does acquiesce mean?
- To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent (usually implying previous opposition or discontent); to accept or consent by silence or by omitting to object.
- To concur upon conviction; to accept tacitly; to assent to; usually, to concur, not heartily but so far as to forbear opposition.“to acquiesce in an opinion”
Where does acquiesce come from?
Borrowed from Middle French acquiescer, from Latin acquiescō; ad + quiescō (“to rest”), from quies (“rest”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with acquiesce
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of acquiesce.
Questions about saying acquiesce
How do you pronounce acquiesce?
Say ak-wee-ES. The American pronunciation is /ˌækwiˈɛs/. In British English it is /ˌækwɪˈɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acquiesce?
Acquiesce has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ES). Broken into parts: ak · wee · ES.
Do Americans and Brits say acquiesce the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌækwiˈɛs/ and the British form is /ˌækwɪˈɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.