How to pronounce senior
Say it like SEE-nyer. Senior has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce senior. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEE
- nyer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Senior pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nyerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of senior
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SEE-nyuh.
What does senior mean?
- older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service“senior officer”
- used of the fourth and final year in United States high school or college“the senior prom”
- advanced in years; (aged is pronounced as two syllables)“aged members of the society”“elderly residents could remember the construction of the first skyscraper”
- an undergraduate student during the year preceding graduation
- a person who is older than you are
Where does senior come from?
From Middle English senior, from Latin senior (“older”), comparative form of senex (“old”); see senate.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with senior
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of senior.
Words that sound like senior
Questions about saying senior
How do you pronounce senior?
Say SEE-nyer. The American pronunciation is /ˈsinjɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsiːnjə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in senior?
Senior has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEE). Broken into parts: SEE · nyer.
Is senior pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈsiːnjə/ (SEE-nyuh).
What words sound the same as senior?
Senior sounds the same as sr in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.