How to pronounce change
Say it like CHAYNJ. Change is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce change. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHAYNJ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Change pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHAYNJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of change
American and British speakers say change in essentially the same way: /tʃeɪndʒ/ in the US and /tʃeɪndʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: CHAYNJ.
What does change mean?
- cause to change; make different; cause a transformation“The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city”“The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue”
- undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature“She changed completely as she grew older”“The weather changed last night”
- become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence“her mood changes in accordance with the weather”“The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season”
- an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another“the change was intended to increase sales”“this storm is certainly a change for the worse”
- a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event“he attributed the change to their marriage”
- the action of changing something“the change of government had no impact on the economy”“his change on abortion cost him the election”
Where does change come from?
The noun is from Middle English change, chaunge, from Old French change, from the verb changier.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with change
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of change.
Questions about saying change
How do you pronounce change?
Say CHAYNJ. The American pronunciation is /tʃeɪndʒ/. In British English it is /tʃeɪndʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in change?
Change is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: CHAYNJ.
Do Americans and Brits say change the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʃeɪndʒ/ and the British form is /tʃeɪndʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.