How to pronounce countess
Say it like KOWN-tus. Countess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce countess. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOWN
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Countess pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of countess
American and British speakers say countess in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊntəs/ in the US and /ˈkaʊntɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOWN-tes.
What does countess mean?
- female equivalent of a count or earl
Where does countess come from?
From Anglo-Norman cuntesse, Old French contesse, from Latin comitissa; equivalent to count + -ess.
Questions about saying countess
How do you pronounce countess?
Say KOWN-tus. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊntəs/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊntɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in countess?
Countess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOWN). Broken into parts: KOWN · tus.
Do Americans and Brits say countess the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊntəs/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊntɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.