How to pronounce response
Say it like rih-SPONS. Response has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPONS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce response. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- SPONS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Response 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.
- SPONSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of response
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: rih-SPONS.
What does response mean?
- a result“this situation developed in response to events in Africa”
- a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent“a bad reaction to the medicine”“his responses have slowed with age”
- a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation“I waited several days for his answer”“he wrote replies to several of his critics”
Where does response come from?
From Middle English respounse, respons, from Old French respons, respuns, responce, ultimately from the Latin respōnsum, a nominal use of the neuter form of respōnsus, the perfect passive participle of respondeō, from re (“again”) + spondeō (“promise”).
Words that rhyme with response
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of response.
Questions about saying response
How do you pronounce response?
Say rih-SPONS. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈspɑns/. In British English it is /rɪˈspɒns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in response?
Response has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPONS). Broken into parts: rih · SPONS.
Is response pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /rɪˈspɒns/ (rih-SPONS).