How to pronounce ellipsis
Say it like ih-LIP-sis. Ellipsis has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ellipsis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ih
- LIP
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ellipsis 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.
- LIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of ellipsis
American and British speakers say ellipsis in essentially the same way: /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/ in the US and /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-LIP-sis.
What does ellipsis mean?
- A mark consisting of multiple full stops (with or without spaces), used to indicate omitted, missing, or illegible words; or (in mathematics) that a pattern continues.“The ellipsis in 1, 2, 3, ..., 8, 9 means that the numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7 are not explicitly included, but are considered to be part of the pattern.”
- The omission from a clause of a word or phrase that is nevertheless inferred using the context of the remaining element.
- The omission of scenes in a film that do not advance the plot.
Questions about saying ellipsis
How do you pronounce ellipsis?
Say ih-LIP-sis. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/. In British English it is /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ellipsis?
Ellipsis has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIP). Broken into parts: ih · LIP · sis.
Do Americans and Brits say ellipsis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/ and the British form is /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.