How to pronounce “ass”
Ass is pronounced /ˈæs/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“ass” sound by sound
“ass” is built out of 2 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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æDrop the jaw noticeably, push the front of the tongue low and forward, and spread the lips — it is a flat, bright, fairly long American vowel.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
Words that rhyme with “ass”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “ass”
Each of these differs from “ass” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “ass”
- How do you pronounce “ass”?
- “ass” is pronounced /ˈæs/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “ass”?
- “ass” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
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