How to pronounce sec
Say it like SEK. Sec is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sec. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sec pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of sec
American and British speakers say sec in essentially the same way: /sɛk/ in the US and /sɛk/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEK.
What does sec mean?
- 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
- ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
- an independent federal agency that oversees the exchange of securities to protect investors
- (of champagne) moderately dry
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- s
Words that rhyme with sec
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sec.
Questions about saying sec
How do you pronounce sec?
Say SEK. The American pronunciation is /sɛk/. In British English it is /sɛk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sec?
Sec is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SEK.
Do Americans and Brits say sec the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛk/ and the British form is /sɛk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.