How to pronounce ginseng
Say it like JIN-seng. Ginseng has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ginseng. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JIN
- seng
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ginseng pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- sengGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of ginseng
American and British speakers say ginseng in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/ in the US and /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: JIN-seng.
What does ginseng mean?
- Any plant of two species of the genus Panax (Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius), having forked roots supposed to have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties.
- The root of such a plant, or an extract of these roots.
Questions about saying ginseng
How do you pronounce ginseng?
Say JIN-seng. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ginseng?
Ginseng has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JIN). Broken into parts: JIN · seng.
Do Americans and Brits say ginseng the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/ and the British form is /ˈdʒɪnˌsɛŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.