How to pronounce parenthesis
Say it like puh-REN-thuh-sis. Parenthesis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce parenthesis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- REN
- thuh
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Parenthesis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- thuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of parenthesis
American and British speakers say parenthesis in essentially the same way: /pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/ in the US and /pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-REN-thih-sis.
What does parenthesis mean?
- A clause, phrase or word which is inserted (usually for explanation or amplification) into a passage which is already grammatically complete, and usually marked off with brackets, commas or dashes.
- Either of a pair of brackets, especially (mainly US) round brackets, ( and ) (used to enclose parenthetical material in a text).
- A digression; the use of such digressions.
Questions about saying parenthesis
How do you pronounce parenthesis?
Say puh-REN-thuh-sis. The American pronunciation is /pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/. In British English it is /pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in parenthesis?
Parenthesis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN). Broken into parts: puh · REN · thuh · sis.
Do Americans and Brits say parenthesis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/ and the British form is /pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.