How to pronounce expense
Say it like ik-SPENS. Expense has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPENS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce expense. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPENS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Expense 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.
- SPENSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of expense
American and British speakers say expense in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈspɛns/ in the US and /ɪkˈspɛns/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SPENS.
What does expense mean?
- amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
- a detriment or sacrifice“at the expense of”
- money spent to perform work and usually reimbursed by an employer“he kept a careful record of his expenses at the meeting”
- reduce the estimated value of something“For tax purposes you can write off the laser printer”
Where does expense come from?
From Middle English expense, from Anglo-Norman expense and Old French espense, from Late Latin expēnsa, from Latin expendō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with expense
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of expense.
Questions about saying expense
How do you pronounce expense?
Say ik-SPENS. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɛns/. In British English it is /ɪkˈspɛns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in expense?
Expense has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPENS). Broken into parts: ik · SPENS.
Do Americans and Brits say expense the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈspɛns/ and the British form is /ɪkˈspɛns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.