How To Pronounce Ensure

ensure

Phonemic

/ɪnˈʃɔː/

Phonetic

[ɪ̃nˈʃʷɔːʴ]

Phonemic

/ɪnˈʃʊr/

In British English, ensure is pronounced /ɪnˈʃɔː/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ɪ̃nˈʃʷɔːʴ]. In American English, it is pronounced /ɪnˈʃʊr/.

Ensure has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

ɪnʃɔː

Ensure has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the second syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is oO, where O is the stressed syllable.

ensure + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ɪnˈʃɔːz/

/ɪnˈʃʊrz/

ensure + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /d/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ɪnˈʃɔːd/

/ɪnˈʃʊrd/

ensure + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/. In UK English a linking /r/ is added because the spelling ends in -r.

/ɪnˈʃɔː.rɪŋ/

/ɪnˈʃʊr.ɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Ensure

Questions About Ensure

How do you pronounce ensure in British English?

In British English, ensure is pronounced /ɪnˈʃɔː/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ɪ̃nˈʃʷɔːʴ].

How do you pronounce ensure in American English?

In American English, ensure is pronounced /ɪnˈʃʊr/.

How many syllables are in ensure?

Ensure has two syllables, /ɪn/ + /ʃɔː/.

Where is the stress in ensure?

The main stress is on the second syllable, /ʃɔː/.

Do British and American English pronounce ensure the same way?

No. British English has /ɪnˈʃɔː/ and American English has /ɪnˈʃʊr/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern oO

Nearby Words

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