How to pronounce possess
Say it like puh-ZES. Possess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce possess. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- ZES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Possess 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.
- ZESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of possess
American and British speakers say possess in essentially the same way: /pəˈzɛs/ in the US and /pəˈzɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-ZES.
What does possess mean?
- have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill“he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East”
- have ownership or possession of“He owns three houses in Florida”“How many cars does she have?”
- enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas“What possessed you to buy this house?”“A terrible rage possessed her”
Where does possess come from?
From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin pos
Words that rhyme with possess
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of possess.
Questions about saying possess
How do you pronounce possess?
Say puh-ZES. The American pronunciation is /pəˈzɛs/. In British English it is /pəˈzɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in possess?
Possess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZES). Broken into parts: puh · ZES.
Do Americans and Brits say possess the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈzɛs/ and the British form is /pəˈzɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.