How to pronounce sickness
Say it like SIK-nus. Sickness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sickness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIK
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sickness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sickness
American and British speakers say sickness in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪknəs/ in the US and /ˈsɪknɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIK-nis.
What does sickness mean?
- impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
- defectiveness or unsoundness“drugs have become a sickness they cannot cure”“a great sickness of his judgment”
- the state that precedes vomiting
Where does sickness come from?
Inherited from Middle English sikness, from Old English sēocnes, sēocness, sēocnys, sēocnyss.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sickness
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sickness.
Questions about saying sickness
How do you pronounce sickness?
Say SIK-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪknəs/. In British English it is /ˈsɪknɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sickness?
Sickness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIK). Broken into parts: SIK · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say sickness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪknəs/ and the British form is /ˈsɪknɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.