Transcription
by Adroit Tutors

How To Pronounce Excellent

excellent

UK
Phonemic
/ˈek.sə.lənt/
Phonetic
[ˈek.sə.lə̃nt̚]
US
Phonemic
/ˈek.sə.lənt/

In British English, excellent is pronounced /ˈek.sə.lənt/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈek.sə.lə̃nt̚]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈek.sə.lənt/.

Excellent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.

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

eksələnt

Excellent has three syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Ooo, where O is the stressed syllable.

Transcription Tips For Excellent

  1. Rule 24

    The Letter x

    The letter x is either /ks/ or /ɡz/. It is /ks/ in six, box and extreme, and /ɡz/ in exam, exit and exhaust.

    six /sɪks/box /bɒks/extreme /ɪkˈstriːm/

    Here. Excellent /ˈek.sə.lənt/

  2. Rule 1

    Double Letters

    Double letters usually realise one sound. There are some cases where double letters realise two sounds, which usually happens with cc and zz.

    letter /ˈlet.ə/bigger /ˈbɪɡ.ə/manner /ˈmæn.ə/

    Here. Excellent /ˈek.sə.lənt/

  3. Rule 3

    Mark The Stressed Syllable

    When a word has more than one syllable, the primary stress marker must be placed before the stressed syllable. It is wrong to write /lɔː.jə/ without the stress marker.

    lawyer /ˈlɔː.jə/

    Here. Excellent /ˈek.sə.lənt/

  4. Rule 7

    Stress Mark Replaces The Dot

    Do not place a syllable boundary marker where the stress marker appears. /ðeɪ.ə.naʊ.ˈhɪə/ is not acceptable.

    They are now here /ðeɪ.ə.naʊˈhɪə/

    Here. Excellent /ˈek.sə.lənt/

All 29 Transcription Rules

Questions About Excellent

How do you pronounce excellent in British English?

In British English, excellent is pronounced /ˈek.sə.lənt/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈek.sə.lə̃nt̚].

How do you pronounce excellent in American English?

In American English, excellent is pronounced /ˈek.sə.lənt/.

How many syllables are in excellent?

Excellent has three syllables, /ek/ + /sə/ + /lənt/.

Where is the stress in excellent?

The main stress is on the first syllable, /ek/.

Do British and American English pronounce excellent the same way?

Yes. Both are /ˈek.sə.lənt/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern Ooo

Nearby Words

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