How to pronounce commence
Say it like kuh-MENS. Commence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MENS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce commence. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- MENS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Commence pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MENSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of commence
American and British speakers say commence in essentially the same way: /kəˈmɛns/ in the US and /kəˈmɛns/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-MENS.
What does commence mean?
- take the first step or steps in carrying out an action“We began working at dawn”“Who will start?”
- set in motion, cause to start“The U.S. started a war in the Middle East”“The Iraqis began hostilities”
- get off the ground“Who started this company?”“We embarked on an exciting enterprise”
Where does commence come from?
From Middle English commencen, comencen (also as contracted comsen, cumsen), from Anglo-Norman comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiāre, formed from Latin com- + initiō (whence English initiate).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with commence
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of commence.
Questions about saying commence
How do you pronounce commence?
Say kuh-MENS. The American pronunciation is /kəˈmɛns/. In British English it is /kəˈmɛns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in commence?
Commence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MENS). Broken into parts: kuh · MENS.
Do Americans and Brits say commence the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈmɛns/ and the British form is /kəˈmɛns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.