How to pronounce yesteryear
Say it like YES-ter-yee-er. Yesteryear has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce yesteryear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YES
- ter
- yee
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yesteryear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- yeeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of yesteryear
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: YES-tuh-yeer.
What does yesteryear mean?
- Past years; time gone by; yore.
- Last year.
- In past years.
Where does yesteryear come from?
From yester- + year.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying yesteryear
How do you pronounce yesteryear?
Say YES-ter-yee-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈjɛstərˌjiər/. In British English it is /ˈjɛstəjɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yesteryear?
Yesteryear has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YES). Broken into parts: YES · ter · yee · er.
Is yesteryear pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /ˈjɛstəjɪə/ (YES-tuh-yeer).