How to pronounce years
Say it like YEERZ. Years 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 years. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YEERZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Years pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YEERZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of years
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: YEERZ.
What does years mean?
- a late time of life“old age is not for sissies”“he's showing his years”
- a prolonged period of time“we've known each other for ages”“I haven't been there for years and years”
- the time during which someone's life continues“the monarch's last days”“in his final years”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with years
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of years.
Words that sound like years
- year's
Questions about saying years
How do you pronounce years?
Say YEERZ. The American pronunciation is /jɪrz/. In British English it is /jɪəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in years?
Years is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YEERZ.
Is years 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 /jɪəz/ (YEERZ).
What words sound the same as years?
Years sounds the same as year's in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.