How to pronounce anxious
Say it like ANGK-shus. Anxious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ANGK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce anxious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ANGK
- shus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Anxious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ANGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- shusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of anxious
American and British speakers say anxious in essentially the same way: /ˈæŋkʃəs/ in the US and /ˈæŋkʃəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: ANGK-shus.
What does anxious mean?
- eagerly desirous“anxious to see the new show at the museum”“dying to hear who won”
- causing or fraught with or showing anxiety“spent an anxious night waiting for the test results”“cast anxious glances behind her”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying anxious
How do you pronounce anxious?
Say ANGK-shus. The American pronunciation is /ˈæŋkʃəs/. In British English it is /ˈæŋkʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in anxious?
Anxious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ANGK). Broken into parts: ANGK · shus.
Do Americans and Brits say anxious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæŋkʃəs/ and the British form is /ˈæŋkʃəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.