How to pronounce text
Say it like TEKST. Text 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 text. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEKST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Text pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TEKSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of text
American and British speakers say text in essentially the same way: /tɛkst/ in the US and /tɛkst/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEKST.
What does text mean?
- the words of something written“there were more than a thousand words of text”“they handed out the printed text of the mayor's speech”
- a passage from the Bible that is used as the subject of a sermon“the preacher chose a text from Psalms to introduce his sermon”
- a book prepared for use in schools or colleges“his economics textbook is in its tenth edition”“the professor wrote the text that he assigned students to buy”
Where does text come from?
From Middle English text, from Old French texte, from Medieval Latin textus, from Latin textus (“style or texture of a work”), perfect passive participle of texō (“to weave”).
Words that rhyme with text
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of text.
Questions about saying text
How do you pronounce text?
Say TEKST. The American pronunciation is /tɛkst/. In British English it is /tɛkst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in text?
Text is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TEKST.
Do Americans and Brits say text the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tɛkst/ and the British form is /tɛkst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.