How to pronounce exist
Say it like ig-ZIST. Exist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZIST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ig
- ZIST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exist pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- igKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ZISTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of exist
American and British speakers say exist in essentially the same way: /ɪɡˈzɪst/ in the US and /ɪɡˈzɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: ig-ZIST.
What does exist mean?
- have an existence, be extant“Is there a God?”
- support oneself“he could barely exist on such a low wage”“Can you live on $2000 a month in New York City?”
Where does exist come from?
From French exister, from Latin existō, exsistō (“I am, I exist, appear, arise”), from ex (“out”) + sistere (“to set, place”) (related to stare (“to stand, to be stood”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti, from the root *steh
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with exist
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of exist.
Questions about saying exist
How do you pronounce exist?
Say ig-ZIST. The American pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzɪst/. In British English it is /ɪɡˈzɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exist?
Exist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZIST). Broken into parts: ig · ZIST.
Do Americans and Brits say exist the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪɡˈzɪst/ and the British form is /ɪɡˈzɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.