How to pronounce anacrusis
Say it like an-uh-KROO-sis. Anacrusis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce anacrusis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- an
- uh
- KROO
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Anacrusis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- anKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KROOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of anacrusis
American and British speakers say anacrusis in essentially the same way: /ænəˈkrusɪs/ in the US and /ænəˈkruːsɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: an-uh-KROO-sis.
What does anacrusis mean?
- An unstressed syllable at the start of a verse.
- An unstressed note or notes before the first strong beat (or downbeat) of a phrase.
Questions about saying anacrusis
How do you pronounce anacrusis?
Say an-uh-KROO-sis. The American pronunciation is /ænəˈkrusɪs/. In British English it is /ænəˈkruːsɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in anacrusis?
Anacrusis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KROO). Broken into parts: an · uh · KROO · sis.
Do Americans and Brits say anacrusis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ænəˈkrusɪs/ and the British form is /ænəˈkruːsɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.