How to pronounce means
Say it like MEENZ. Means is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce means. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEENZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Means pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEENZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of means
American and British speakers say means in essentially the same way: /minz/ in the US and /miːnz/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEENZ.
What does means mean?
- thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end“a means of control”“an example is the best agency of instruction”
- an instrumentality for accomplishing some end
- considerable capital (wealth or income)“he is a man of means”
Where does means come from?
From mean (“method or course of action used to achieve some result”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with means
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of means.
Questions about saying means
How do you pronounce means?
Say MEENZ. The American pronunciation is /minz/. In British English it is /miːnz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in means?
Means is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MEENZ.
Do Americans and Brits say means the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /minz/ and the British form is /miːnz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.