How to pronounce minus
Say it like MY-nus. Minus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY).
- MY
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Minus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of minus
American and British speakers say minus in essentially the same way: /ˈmaɪnəs/ in the US and /ˈmaɪnəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: MY-nus.
What does minus mean?
- Made less or reduced by (followed by an expression of number or quantity).“Seven minus two is five.”
- Without; deprived of.“I walked out minus my coat.”
- The minus sign (−).
- A negative quantity.
- A downside or disadvantage.
- Being a negative quantity; pertaining to a deficit or reduction.“a minus number”
- That is below zero by (a specified amount) on a scale.“minus seven degrees”
- Ranking just below (a designated rating).“He got a grade of B minus for his essay.”
Where does minus come from?
From Middle English mynus, from Latin minus, neuter form of minor, comparative form of parvus (“small, little”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey- (“few, small”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with minus
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of minus.
Questions about saying minus
How do you pronounce minus?
Say MY-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈmaɪnəs/. In British English it is /ˈmaɪnəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in minus?
Minus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY). Broken into parts: MY · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say minus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmaɪnəs/ and the British form is /ˈmaɪnəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.