How to pronounce recess
Say it like rih-SES. Recess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce recess. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- SES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Recess pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of recess
American and British speakers say recess in essentially the same way: /rɪˈsɛs/ in the US and /rɪˈsɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-SES.
Other ways to say recess
Recess also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- REE-ses /ˈrisɛs/
What does recess mean?
- put into a recess“recess lights”
- make a recess in“recess the piece of wood”
- close at the end of a session“The court adjourned”
- a state of abeyance or suspended business
- a small concavity
- an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
Words that rhyme with recess
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of recess.
Questions about saying recess
How do you pronounce recess?
Say rih-SES. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈsɛs/. In British English it is /rɪˈsɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in recess?
Recess has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES). Broken into parts: rih · SES.
Do Americans and Brits say recess the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈsɛs/ and the British form is /rɪˈsɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.