How to pronounce issue
Say it like ISH-oo. Issue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ISH).
- ISH
- oo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Issue pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of issue
American and British speakers say issue in essentially the same way: /ˈɪʃu/ in the US and /ˈɪʃuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: ISH-oo.
What does issue mean?
- prepare and issue for public distribution or sale“publish a magazine or newspaper”
- circulate or distribute or equip with“issue a new uniform to the children”“supply blankets for the beds”
- bring out an official document (such as a warrant)
- an important question that is in dispute and must be settled“the issue could be settled by requiring public education for everyone”“politicians never discuss the real issues”
- one of a series published periodically“she found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waiting room”
- some situation or event that is thought about“he kept drifting off the topic”“he had been thinking about the subject for several years”
Where does issue come from?
The legal meaning originated from the concept of "the end or result of pleadings in a suit (by presenting the point to be determined by trial)," leading to the sense of "the controversy over facts in a trial" (early 14th century, Anglo-French).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying issue
How do you pronounce issue?
Say ISH-oo. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪʃu/. In British English it is /ˈɪʃuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in issue?
Issue has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ISH). Broken into parts: ISH · oo.
Do Americans and Brits say issue the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪʃu/ and the British form is /ˈɪʃuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.