How to pronounce obedience
Say it like oh-BEE-dee-uns. Obedience has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce obedience. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- BEE
- dee
- uns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Obedience pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of obedience
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-BEE-deerns.
What does obedience mean?
- the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
- the trait of being willing to obey
- behavior intended to please your parents“their children were never very strong on obedience”“he went to law school out of respect for his father's wishes”
Where does obedience come from?
From Middle English obedience, from Anglo-Norman obedience, from Old French obedience (modern French obédience), from Latin oboedientia.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying obedience
How do you pronounce obedience?
Say oh-BEE-dee-uns. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈbidiəns/. In British English it is /əʊˈbiːdɪəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in obedience?
Obedience has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEE). Broken into parts: oh · BEE · dee · uns.
Is obedience pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /əʊˈbiːdɪəns/ (oh-BEE-deerns).