How to pronounce sparse
Say it like SPARS. Sparse 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 sparse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPARS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sparse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPARSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of sparse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SPAHS.
What does sparse mean?
- Having widely spaced intervals.“a sparse array, index, or matrix”
- Not dense; meager; scanty
- Having few nonzero elements
Where does sparse come from?
Borrowed from Latin sparsus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sparse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sparse.
Questions about saying sparse
How do you pronounce sparse?
Say SPARS. The American pronunciation is /spɑrs/. In British English it is /spɑːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sparse?
Sparse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPARS.
Is sparse 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 /spɑːs/ (SPAHS).