How to pronounce kaizen
Say it like KY-zuhn. Kaizen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kaizen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KY
- zuhn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kaizen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- zuhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of kaizen
American and British speakers say kaizen in essentially the same way: /ˈkaɪˌzən/ in the US and /ˈkaɪˌzən/ in the UK.
British respelling: KY-zuhn.
What does kaizen mean?
- A Japanese business practice of continuous improvement in performance and productivity.
- Continuous improvement generally.
- To apply continuous improvement to (a task, or the worker who performs it).
Where does kaizen come from?
Introduced to English in 1959 by Boyé Lafayette De Mente in his book Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business.
Words that rhyme with kaizen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kaizen.
Questions about saying kaizen
How do you pronounce kaizen?
Say KY-zuhn. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaɪˌzən/. In British English it is /ˈkaɪˌzən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kaizen?
Kaizen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KY). Broken into parts: KY · zuhn.
Do Americans and Brits say kaizen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaɪˌzən/ and the British form is /ˈkaɪˌzən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.