How to pronounce “series”
Series is pronounced /ˈsɪriːz/. 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.
“series” sound by sound
“series” 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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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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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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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
Questions people ask about “series”
- How do you pronounce “series”?
- “series” is pronounced /ˈsɪriːz/, with the stress on the first syllable (sɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “series”?
- “series” has 2 syllables: sɪ · riːz. The stress pattern is Oo.
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