How to pronounce “scissors”
Scissors is pronounced /ˈsɪzərz/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — sɪ. 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 sɪ 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 “scissors”
✗ Often said: /ˈskɪsɔːrz/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈsɪzərz/
Why the two come apart: the “sc” is a plain /s/ — the “c” is silent — and the middle “ss” is voiced to a /z/, so it is “SIZ-erz”.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “scissors” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“scissors” sound by sound
“scissors” 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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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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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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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
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ərThe same r-coloured tongue shape as /ɜːr/ but weak, short and unstressed — the ending of "teacher", "doctor", "sugar".
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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
Silent letters in “scissors”
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.
Questions people ask about “scissors”
- How do you pronounce “scissors”?
- “scissors” is pronounced /ˈsɪzərz/, with the stress on the first syllable (sɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “scissors”?
- “scissors” has 2 syllables: sɪ · zərz. The stress pattern is Oo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “scissors”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈskɪsɔːrz/, but it is actually /ˈsɪzərz/, because the “sc” is a plain /s/ — the “c” is silent — and the middle “ss” is voiced to a /z/, so it is “SIZ-erz”.
- Does “scissors” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “c” in “sc”.
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