How to pronounce surface
Say it like SUR-fus. Surface has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surface. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- fus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surface pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- fusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of surface
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUR-fis.
What does surface mean?
- the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary“there is a special cleaner for these surfaces”“the cloth had a pattern of red dots on a white surface”
- the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object“they skimmed over the surface of the water”“a brush small enough to clean every dental surface”
- the outermost level of the land or sea“earthquakes originate far below the surface”“three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water”
- come to the surface
- put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface“coat the cake with chocolate”
- appear or become visible; make a showing“She turned up at the funeral”“I hope the list key is going to surface again”
- on the surface“surface materials of the moon”
Where does surface come from?
Borrowed from Middle French surface.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying surface
How do you pronounce surface?
Say SUR-fus. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɝfəs/. In British English it is /ˈsɜːfɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surface?
Surface has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR). Broken into parts: SUR · fus.
Is surface 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 /ˈsɜːfɪs/ (SUR-fis).