How to pronounce Memphis
Say it like MEM-fus. Memphis has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Memphis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEM
- fus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Memphis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- fusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Memphis
American and British speakers say Memphis in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛmfəs/ in the US and /ˈmɛmfɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEM-fis.
What does Memphis mean?
- largest city of Tennessee; located in southwestern Tennessee on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
- an ancient city of Egypt on the Nile (south of Cairo)
Questions about saying Memphis
How do you pronounce Memphis?
Say MEM-fus. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛmfəs/. In British English it is /ˈmɛmfɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Memphis?
Memphis has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEM). Broken into parts: MEM · fus.
Do Americans and Brits say Memphis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛmfəs/ and the British form is /ˈmɛmfɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.