How to pronounce etch
Say it like ECH. Etch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce etch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ECH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Etch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ECHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of etch
American and British speakers say etch in essentially the same way: /ɛtʃ/ in the US and /ɛtʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: ECH.
What does etch mean?
- To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards.
- To engrave a surface.
- To make a lasting impression.“The memory of 9/11 is etched into my mind.”
Where does etch come from?
From Dutch etsen (“to etch”), from German ätzen (“to etch”), from Old High German azzon (“to cause to bite or feed”), from Proto-Germanic *atjaną, causative of *etaną (“to eat”) (whence also English eat).
Questions about saying etch
How do you pronounce etch?
Say ECH. The American pronunciation is /ɛtʃ/. In British English it is /ɛtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in etch?
Etch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ECH.
Do Americans and Brits say etch the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛtʃ/ and the British form is /ɛtʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.