How to pronounce efficient
Say it like ih-FISH-unt. Efficient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FISH).
- ih
- FISH
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Efficient pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of efficient
American and British speakers say efficient in essentially the same way: /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ in the US and /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-FISH-unt.
What does efficient mean?
- Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy.“An efficient process would automate all the routine work.”
- Expressing the proportion of consumed energy that was successfully used in a process; the ratio of useful output to total input.“The motor is only 20% efficient at that temperature.”
- Causing effects, producing results; bringing into being; initiating change (rare except in philosophical and legal expression efficient cause = causative factor or agent).“Ownership, maintenance, or use of the automobile need not be the direct and efficient cause of the injury sustained”
Where does efficient come from?
1398, “making,” from Old French, from Latin efficientem, nominative efficiēns, participle of efficere (“work out, accomplish”) (see effect).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with efficient
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of efficient.
Questions about saying efficient
How do you pronounce efficient?
Say ih-FISH-unt. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈfɪʃənt/. In British English it is /ɪˈfɪʃənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in efficient?
Efficient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FISH). Broken into parts: ih · FISH · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say efficient the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ and the British form is /ɪˈfɪʃənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.