How to pronounce iris
Say it like EYE-rus. Iris has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce iris. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Iris pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of iris
American and British speakers say iris in essentially the same way: /ˈaɪrəs/ in the US and /ˈaɪrɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE-ris.
What does iris mean?
- plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
- muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eye
- diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with iris
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of iris.
Questions about saying iris
How do you pronounce iris?
Say EYE-rus. The American pronunciation is /ˈaɪrəs/. In British English it is /ˈaɪrɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in iris?
Iris has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE). Broken into parts: EYE · rus.
Do Americans and Brits say iris the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaɪrəs/ and the British form is /ˈaɪrɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.