How to pronounce experience
Say it like ik-SPIR-ee-uns. Experience has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce experience. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPIR
- ee
- uns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Experience 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.
- SPIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of experience
American and British speakers say experience in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈspɪriəns/ in the US and /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SPEER-ree-uns.
What does experience mean?
- undergo or live through a difficult experience“We had many trials to go through”“he saw action in Viet Nam”
- have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations“I know the feeling!”“have you ever known hunger?”
- go through (mental or physical states or experiences)“get an idea”“experience vertigo”
- the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities“a man of experience”“experience is the best teacher”
- the content of direct observation or participation in an event“he had a religious experience”“he recalled the experience vividly”
- an event as apprehended“a surprising experience”“that painful experience certainly got our attention”
Where does experience come from?
From Middle English experience, from Old French, from Latin experientia (“a trial, proof, experiment, experimental knowledge, experience”), from experiens, present participle of experiri (“to try, put to the test, undertake, undergo”), from
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying experience
How do you pronounce experience?
Say ik-SPIR-ee-uns. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɪriəns/. In British English it is /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in experience?
Experience has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIR). Broken into parts: ik · SPIR · ee · uns.
Do Americans and Brits say experience the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈspɪriəns/ and the British form is /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.