How to pronounce “issue”
Issue is pronounced /ˈɪʃuː/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — ɪ. 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 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting ɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “issue”
✗ Often said: /ˈɪsʌe/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈɪʃuː/
Why the two come apart: at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here; also, a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “issue” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“issue” sound by sound
“issue” is built out of 3 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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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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ʃPull the tongue slightly back from the /s/ position, spread the blade wide behind the ridge, round the lips a little, and push air through with no voice.
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uːPush the tongue high and back and round the lips into a tight, forward circle; hold it tense and long.
Words that rhyme with “issue”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “issue”
- How do you pronounce “issue”?
- “issue” is pronounced /ˈɪʃuː/, with the stress on the first syllable (ɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “issue”?
- “issue” has 2 syllables: ɪ · ʃuː. The stress pattern is Oo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “issue”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈɪsʌe/, but it is actually /ˈɪʃuː/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
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