How to pronounce espouse
Say it like ih-SPOWZ. Espouse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOWZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce espouse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ih
- SPOWZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Espouse 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.
- SPOWZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of espouse
American and British speakers say espouse in essentially the same way: /ɪˈspaʊz/ in the US and /ɪˈspaʊz/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-SPOWZ.
What does espouse mean?
- To marry.
- To accept, support, or take on as one’s own (an idea or a cause).
Where does espouse come from?
From Middle English espousen, borrowed from Old French espouser, from Latin spōnsāre (frequentative of spondeō), from Proto-Indo-European *spend-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with espouse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of espouse.
Questions about saying espouse
How do you pronounce espouse?
Say ih-SPOWZ. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈspaʊz/. In British English it is /ɪˈspaʊz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in espouse?
Espouse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOWZ). Broken into parts: ih · SPOWZ.
Do Americans and Brits say espouse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪˈspaʊz/ and the British form is /ɪˈspaʊz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.