How to pronounce hiss
Say it like HIS. Hiss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
US American/hɪs/HIS
UK British/hɪs/his
- HIS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hiss pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of hiss
American and British speakers say hiss in essentially the same way: /hɪs/ in the US and /hɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: his.
What does hiss mean?
noun
- A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.
- An expression of disapproval made using such a sound.
- To make a hiss, a sibilant sound of air escaping.“As I started to poke it, the snake hissed at me.”
- To call someone by hissing.
- To condemn or express contempt (for someone or something) by hissing.“The crowd booed and hissed her off the stage.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hiss
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hiss.
Questions about saying hiss
How do you pronounce hiss?
Say HIS. The American pronunciation is /hɪs/. In British English it is /hɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hiss?
Hiss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HIS.
Do Americans and Brits say hiss the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /hɪs/ and the British form is /hɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.