How to pronounce menace
Say it like MEN-us. Menace has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce menace. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEN
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Menace pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of menace
American and British speakers say menace in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛnəs/ in the US and /ˈmɛnɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEN-is.
What does menace mean?
- something that is a source of danger“earthquakes are a constant threat in Japan”
- a threat or the act of threatening“he spoke with desperate menace”
- pose a threat to; present a danger to“The pollution is endangering the crops”
- express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture“he menaced the bank manager with a stick”
- act in a threatening manner“A menacing person”
Where does menace come from?
From Middle English manace, from Old French manace, menace, &c., from Late Latin minācia (“threat, menace”), from Latin mināx (“threatening”) + -ia (suffix forming abstract nouns).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with menace
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of menace.
Questions about saying menace
How do you pronounce menace?
Say MEN-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛnəs/. In British English it is /ˈmɛnɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in menace?
Menace has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEN). Broken into parts: MEN · us.
Do Americans and Brits say menace the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛnəs/ and the British form is /ˈmɛnɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.