How to pronounce exponent
Say it like EK-spoh-nunt. Exponent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EK).
- EK
- spoh
- nunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exponent 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.
- spohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of exponent
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ek-SPOH-nunt.
What does exponent mean?
- One who expounds, represents or advocates.
- The number by which a value (called the base) is said to be raised to a power in exponentiation: for example, the 3 in 2³=8.
- A phonological manifestation of a morphosyntactic property; in layman's terms, the expression of one or more grammatical properties by sound.
Where does exponent come from?
From Latin expōnēns, present participle of expōnō (“to expose; to exhibit, display, set out; to explain”), from ex- (“out, away”) + pōnō (“to lay, place, put”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exponent
How do you pronounce exponent?
Say EK-spoh-nunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛkˌspoʊnənt/. In British English it is /ɛkˈspəʊnənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exponent?
Exponent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EK). Broken into parts: EK · spoh · nunt.
Is exponent pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /ɛkˈspəʊnənt/ (ek-SPOH-nunt).