How to pronounce impatience
Say it like im-PAY-shuns. Impatience has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impatience. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PAY
- shuns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impatience pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of impatience
American and British speakers say impatience in essentially the same way: /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/ in the US and /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-PAY-shuns.
What does impatience mean?
- The quality of being impatient; lacking patience; restlessness and intolerance of delays; anxiety and eagerness, especially to begin something.
Where does impatience come from?
Inherited from Middle English impacience, from Old French impacience (modern French impatience), from Latin impatientia.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying impatience
How do you pronounce impatience?
Say im-PAY-shuns. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/. In British English it is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impatience?
Impatience has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAY). Broken into parts: im · PAY · shuns.
Do Americans and Brits say impatience the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/ and the British form is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.