How to pronounce phoenix
Say it like FEE-niks. Phoenix has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce phoenix. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FEE
- niks
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Phoenix pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- niksKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of phoenix
American and British speakers say phoenix in essentially the same way: /ˈfinɪks/ in the US and /ˈfiːnɪks/ in the UK.
British respelling: FEE-niks.
What does phoenix mean?
- the state capital and largest city located in south central Arizona; situated in a former desert that has become a prosperous agricultural area thanks to irrigation
- a large monocotyledonous genus of pinnate-leaved palms found in Asia and Africa
- a legendary Arabian bird said to periodically burn itself to death and emerge from the ashes as a new phoenix; according to most versions only one phoenix lived at a time and it renewed itself every 500 years
Questions about saying phoenix
How do you pronounce phoenix?
Say FEE-niks. The American pronunciation is /ˈfinɪks/. In British English it is /ˈfiːnɪks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in phoenix?
Phoenix has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FEE). Broken into parts: FEE · niks.
Do Americans and Brits say phoenix the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfinɪks/ and the British form is /ˈfiːnɪks/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.