How to pronounce assistance
Say it like uh-SIS-tuns. Assistance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce assistance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SIS
- tuns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Assistance 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.
- SISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of assistance
American and British speakers say assistance in essentially the same way: /əˈsɪstəns/ in the US and /əˈsɪstəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-SIS-tuns.
What does assistance mean?
- the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose“he gave me an assist with the housework”“could not walk without assistance”
- a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do“visual aids in teaching”“his job was to give technical assistance over the phone”
- gift of money or other material help to support a person or cause“economic assistance to depressed areas”
Where does assistance come from?
From Middle English assistance, from Middle French assistance, from Medieval Latin assistentia, from Latin assistō (“to stand at”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with assistance
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of assistance.
Questions about saying assistance
How do you pronounce assistance?
Say uh-SIS-tuns. The American pronunciation is /əˈsɪstəns/. In British English it is /əˈsɪstəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in assistance?
Assistance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIS). Broken into parts: uh · SIS · tuns.
Do Americans and Brits say assistance the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈsɪstəns/ and the British form is /əˈsɪstəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.