How to pronounce “obscene”
Obscene is pronounced /ɑːbˈsiːn/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — siːn. 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 siːn 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 “obscene”
✗ Often said: /ˈɑːbskiːn/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ɑːbˈsiːn/
Why the two come apart: the silent “c” in “sc” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, the stress lands on the second syllable (“siːn”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “obscene” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“obscene” sound by sound
“obscene” is built out of 5 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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ɑːOpen the mouth wide, drop the tongue low and back, keep the lips unrounded, and hold it long — the doctor-says-"ahh" vowel.
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bPress both lips together and release them while the vocal folds are already vibrating, with no puff of air.
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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.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
Silent letters in “obscene”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- cThe letter “c”Silent “c” in “sc” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “obscene”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “obscene”
- How do you pronounce “obscene”?
- “obscene” is pronounced /ɑːbˈsiːn/, with the stress on the second syllable (siːn). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “obscene”?
- “obscene” has 2 syllables: ɑːb · siːn. The stress pattern is oO.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “obscene”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈɑːbskiːn/, but it is actually /ɑːbˈsiːn/, because the silent “c” in “sc” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “obscene” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “c” in “sc”, and silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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