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How to pronounce nuance

Say it like NOO-ahns. Nuance has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOO).

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Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nuance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/ˈnuɑns/NOO-ahns
UK British/ˈnjuːɑːns/NYOO-ahns
  • NOO
  • ahns
  • Main stress
  • Lighter stress
  • Unstressed

Nuance pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

  1. NOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
  2. ahnsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.

American vs British pronunciation of nuance

  • British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).

British respelling: NYOO-ahns.

What does nuance mean?

noun
  1. A minor distinction.“hidden nuances”
  2. Subtlety or fine detail.“Understanding the basics is easy, but appreciating the nuances takes years.”
verb
  1. To apply a nuance to; to change or redefine in a subtle way.

Similar and opposite words

Similar meaning

Questions about saying nuance

How do you pronounce nuance?

Say NOO-ahns. The American pronunciation is /ˈnuɑns/. In British English it is /ˈnjuːɑːns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in nuance?

Nuance has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOO). Broken into parts: NOO · ahns.

Is nuance pronounced differently in British English?

Yes. British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune). The British form is /ˈnjuːɑːns/ (NYOO-ahns).

Pronunciation from CMUdict and Britfone; meaning and origin adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).