How to pronounce utensil
Say it like yoo-TEN-sul. Utensil has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce utensil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- yoo
- TEN
- sul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Utensil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of utensil
American and British speakers say utensil in essentially the same way: /juˈtɛnsəl/ in the US and /juˈtɛnsəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: yoo-TEN-sul.
What does utensil mean?
- An instrument or device for domestic use, especially in the kitchen.“We have convenient storage for all the kitchen/eating utensils.”
- Specifically, a eating utensil (fork, table knife, or spoon); a piece of flatware or cutlery.
- A useful small tool, implement, or vessel.“He stocked up on old-style writing utensils.”
Where does utensil come from?
From Middle English utensyl, from Old French utensile, from Latin ūtēnsilis (“useful, usable”).
Words that rhyme with utensil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of utensil.
Questions about saying utensil
How do you pronounce utensil?
Say yoo-TEN-sul. The American pronunciation is /juˈtɛnsəl/. In British English it is /juˈtɛnsəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in utensil?
Utensil has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: yoo · TEN · sul.
Do Americans and Brits say utensil the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /juˈtɛnsəl/ and the British form is /juˈtɛnsəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.