How to Pronounce “answer”

American (US)

/ˈænsər/

British (UK)

/ˈɑːnsə/

Australian (AU)

/ˈæn.sə/

noun — A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.

Example: Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.

The spelling is misleading. “answer” is one of a short list of English words whose spelling and pronunciation drifted apart and never came back together. Do not try to sound it out letter by letter — listen to it and learn it whole.

Where the stress falls. “answer” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈænsər/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈænsər/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "answer" mean?

answer (noun): A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question. For example — Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.

How do you pronounce "answer" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˈænsər/. British English: /ˈɑːnsə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "answer"?

/ˈænsər/ in American English, /ˈɑːnsə/ in British English, /ˈæn.sə/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "answer"?

“answer” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈænsər/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• Silent W words
• Trap-bath split words