How to pronounce actress
Say it like AK-trus. Actress 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 actress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AK
- trus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Actress 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.
- trusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of actress
American and British speakers say actress in essentially the same way: /ˈæktrəs/ in the US and /ˈæktrɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: AK-tris.
What does actress mean?
- a female actor
Where does actress come from?
From actor + -ess. Probably formed independently of Middle French actrice.
Questions about saying actress
How do you pronounce actress?
Say AK-trus. The American pronunciation is /ˈæktrəs/. In British English it is /ˈæktrɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in actress?
Actress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK). Broken into parts: AK · trus.
Do Americans and Brits say actress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæktrəs/ and the British form is /ˈæktrɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.