How to pronounce “outside”
Outside is pronounced /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — aʊt. 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 aʊt in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern OO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“outside” sound by sound
“outside” 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.
-
aʊStart with the mouth wide open at /a/ and glide back and up toward /ʊ/, rounding the lips as the jaw closes.
-
tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
-
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.
-
aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
-
dSame tongue position as /t/ — tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth — but voice the sound and release it without aspiration.
Silent letters in “outside”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Questions people ask about “outside”
- How do you pronounce “outside”?
- “outside” is pronounced /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/, with the stress on the first syllable (aʊt). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “outside”?
- “outside” has 2 syllables: aʊt · saɪd. The stress pattern is OO.
- Does “outside” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
Stop looking words up one at a time
You just looked up one word. PHONO puts the IPA above every word of whatever you are reading — in your browser, in a PDF, in any app — the moment you select it. An offline pronunciation dictionary, US and UK audio, one hotkey.