How To Pronounce Reference
reference
In British English, reference is pronounced /ˈref.ər.əns/ or /ˈref.rəns/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈref.ər.ə̃ns]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈref.rəns/.
Reference has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first 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
Reference 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.
Questions About Reference
How do you pronounce reference in British English?
In British English, reference is pronounced /ˈref.ər.əns/ or /ˈref.rəns/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈref.ər.ə̃ns].
How do you pronounce reference in American English?
In American English, reference is pronounced /ˈref.rəns/.
How many syllables are in reference?
Reference has three syllables, /ref/ + /ər/ + /əns/.
Where is the stress in reference?
The main stress is on the first syllable, /ref/.
Do British and American English pronounce reference the same way?
No. British English has /ˈref.ər.əns/ and American English has /ˈref.rəns/.
Other Words With The Stress Pattern Ooo
Nearby Words
Learn English and Literature with Adroit Tutors on our website, and order course materials there too.
www.adroittutors.com