How to Pronounce “cryptocurrency”

American (US)

/ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/

British (UK)

/ˌkrɪptəʊˈkʌrənsi/

noun — A digital currency secured by cryptography and recorded on a distributed ledger.

Example: The fund holds no cryptocurrency at all.

Where the stress falls. “cryptocurrency” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/ 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 "cryptocurrency" mean?

cryptocurrency (noun): A digital currency secured by cryptography and recorded on a distributed ledger. For example — The fund holds no cryptocurrency at all.

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

American English: /ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/. British English: /ˌkrɪptəʊˈkʌrənsi/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "cryptocurrency"?

/ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/ in American English, /ˌkrɪptəʊˈkʌrənsi/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "cryptocurrency"?

“cryptocurrency” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌkrɪptoʊˈkɜːrənsi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.