How to pronounce impatient
Say it like im-PAY-shunt. Impatient 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 impatient. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PAY
- shunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impatient 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.
- shuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of impatient
American and British speakers say impatient in essentially the same way: /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/ in the US and /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-PAY-shunt.
What does impatient mean?
- restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition“impatient with the slower students”“impatient of criticism”
- (usually followed by to) full of eagerness“impatient to begin”“raring to go”
Where does impatient come from?
From Old French impacient (modern French impatient), from Latin impatiēns.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying impatient
How do you pronounce impatient?
Say im-PAY-shunt. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/. In British English it is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impatient?
Impatient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAY). Broken into parts: im · PAY · shunt.
Do Americans and Brits say impatient the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/ and the British form is /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.