How to pronounce whence
Say it like WENS. Whence 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 whence. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WENS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whence pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WENSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of whence
American and British speakers say whence in essentially the same way: /wɛns/ in the US and /wɛns/ in the UK.
British respelling: WENS.
What does whence mean?
- Used for introducing the result of a fact that has just been stated; thence“The work is slow and dangerous, whence the high costs.”
Where does whence come from?
From Middle English whennes, from Old English hwanon (with adverbial genitive -s), related to hwonne (whence when).
Words that rhyme with whence
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whence.
Questions about saying whence
How do you pronounce whence?
Say WENS. The American pronunciation is /wɛns/. In British English it is /wɛns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whence?
Whence is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WENS.
Do Americans and Brits say whence the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɛns/ and the British form is /wɛns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.