How to pronounce excuse
Say it like ik-SKYOOS. Excuse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKYOOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce excuse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SKYOOS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Noun ends with an s sound ('ik-SKYOOSS'). Verb ends with a z sound ('ik-SKYOOZ').
Excuse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SKYOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of excuse
American and British speakers say excuse in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈskjus/ in the US and /ɪkˈskjuːs/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SKYOOS.
What does excuse mean?
- accept an excuse for“Please excuse my dirty hands”
- grant exemption or release to“Please excuse me from this class”
- serve as a reason or cause or justification of“Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work”“Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again”
- a note explaining an absence“he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him”
- a poor example“it was an apology for a meal”“a poor excuse for an automobile”
Where does excuse come from?
From Middle English excusen (verb) and excuse (noun), borrowed from Old French escuser (verb) and excuse (noun), from Latin excūsō, excūsāre (“to excuse, allege in excuse, literally, free from a charge”), from ex (“out”) + causa (“a charge”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with excuse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of excuse.
Questions about saying excuse
How do you pronounce excuse?
Say ik-SKYOOS. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈskjus/. In British English it is /ɪkˈskjuːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in excuse?
Excuse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKYOOS). Broken into parts: ik · SKYOOS.
Do Americans and Brits say excuse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈskjus/ and the British form is /ɪkˈskjuːs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.