How to pronounce eleven
Say it like EE-lev-un. Eleven has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eleven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EE
- lev
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eleven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- levKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of eleven
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
British respelling: ih-LEV-un.
Other ways to say eleven
Eleven also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- ih-LEV-un /ɪˈlɛvən/
What does eleven mean?
- being one more than ten
- the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and one
- a team that plays football
Where does eleven come from?
From Middle English elleven, enleven, eleven, from Old English endleofan; from Proto-Germanic *ainalif (“one left”) (i.e., one left over after having already counted to ten), a compound of *ainaz and *-lif, from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“leave, remain”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying eleven
How do you pronounce eleven?
Say EE-lev-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈilɛvən/. In British English it is /ɪˈlɛvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eleven?
Eleven has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE). Broken into parts: EE · lev · un.
Is eleven pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /ɪˈlɛvən/ (ih-LEV-un).