How to pronounce empress
Say it like EM-pres. Empress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce empress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EM
- pres
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Empress pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- presKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of empress
American and British speakers say empress in essentially the same way: /ˈɛmprɛs/ in the US and /ˈɛmprɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: EM-pres.
What does empress mean?
- The female monarch (ruler) of an empire.
- The wife or widow of an emperor or equated ruler.
- The third trump or major arcana card of most tarot decks.
- Rare form of impress. How to pronounce impress
Where does empress come from?
From Middle English emperice, emperesse, from Anglo-Norman and Old French empereriz, from Latin imperatrix, equivalent to emperor + -ess.
Questions about saying empress
How do you pronounce empress?
Say EM-pres. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛmprɛs/. In British English it is /ˈɛmprɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in empress?
Empress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EM). Broken into parts: EM · pres.
Do Americans and Brits say empress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛmprɛs/ and the British form is /ˈɛmprɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.