How to pronounce excess
Say it like EK-ses. Excess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce excess. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EK
- ses
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Excess pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sesGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of excess
American and British speakers say excess in essentially the same way: /ˈɛkˌsɛs/ in the US and /ˈɛkˌsɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: EK-ses.
Other ways to say excess
Excess also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- ik-SES /ɪkˈsɛs/
What does excess mean?
- a quantity much larger than is needed
- immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
- the state of being more than full
- more than is needed, desired, or required“trying to lose excess weight”“found some extra change lying on the dresser”
Where does excess come from?
From Middle English exces (“excess, ecstasy”), from Old French exces, from Latin excessus (“a going out, loss of self-possession”), from excedere, excessum (“to go out, go beyond”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying excess
How do you pronounce excess?
Say EK-ses. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛkˌsɛs/. In British English it is /ˈɛkˌsɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in excess?
Excess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EK). Broken into parts: EK · ses.
Do Americans and Brits say excess the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛkˌsɛs/ and the British form is /ˈɛkˌsɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.