How to pronounce system
Say it like SIS-tum. System has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce system. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIS
- tum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
System pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of system
American and British speakers say system in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪstəm/ in the US and /ˈsɪstəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIS-tum.
What does system mean?
- instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity“he bought a new stereo system”“the system consists of a motor and a small computer”
- a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole“a vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going”
- (physical chemistry) a sample of matter in which substances in different phases are in equilibrium“in a static system oil cannot be replaced by water on a surface”“a system generating hydrogen peroxide”
Where does system come from?
Cognate with Dutch systeem, modern French système, German System, Italian sistema, Portuguese sistema, Spanish sistema.
Questions about saying system
How do you pronounce system?
Say SIS-tum. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪstəm/. In British English it is /ˈsɪstəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in system?
System has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIS). Broken into parts: SIS · tum.
Do Americans and Brits say system the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪstəm/ and the British form is /ˈsɪstəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.