How to pronounce index
Say it like IN-deks. Index has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce index. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IN
- deks
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Index pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- INSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- deksKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of index
American and British speakers say index in essentially the same way: /ˈɪndɛks/ in the US and /ˈɪndɛks/ in the UK.
British respelling: IN-deks.
What does index mean?
- a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number
- a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time
- a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
- list in an index
- provide with an index“index the book”
- adjust through indexation“The government indexes wages and prices”
Where does index come from?
From Latin index (“a discoverer, informer, spy; of things, an indicator, the forefinger, a title, superscription”), from indicō (“point out, show”); see indicate.
Questions about saying index
How do you pronounce index?
Say IN-deks. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪndɛks/. In British English it is /ˈɪndɛks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in index?
Index has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN). Broken into parts: IN · deks.
Do Americans and Brits say index the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪndɛks/ and the British form is /ˈɪndɛks/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.