How to Pronounce “efficient”

American (US)

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

British (UK)

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

adjective — Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy.

Example: An efficient process would automate all the routine work.

Where the stress falls. “efficient” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ 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 "efficient" mean?

efficient (adjective): Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy. For example — An efficient process would automate all the routine work.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "efficient", /ɪˈfɪʃənt/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "efficient"?

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/ in American English, /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "efficient"?

“efficient” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.