How To Pronounce Second

second

Phonemic

/ˈsek.ənd/

Phonetic

[ˈsek.ə̃nd̚]

Phonemic

/ˈsek.ənd/

In British English, second is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈsek.ə̃nd̚]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd/.

Second has two 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

sekənd

Second has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Oo, where O is the stressed syllable.

second + -s

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

/ˈsek.əndz/

second + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /ɪd/ after /t/ or /d/.

/ˈsek.ən.dɪd/

second + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/.

/ˈsek.ən.dɪŋ/

Questions About Second

How do you pronounce second in British English?

In British English, second is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈsek.ə̃nd̚].

How do you pronounce second in American English?

In American English, second is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd/.

How many syllables are in second?

Second has two syllables, /sek/ + /ənd/.

Where is the stress in second?

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

Do British and American English pronounce second the same way?

Yes. Both are /ˈsek.ənd/.

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