How to Pronounce “existence”

American (US)

/ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/

noun — The state of being, existing, or occurring; beinghood.

Example: In order to destroy evil, we must first acknowledge its existence.

The final e is silent. The transcription /ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “existence” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “existence” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ 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. /ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ 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 "existence" mean?

existence (noun): The state of being, existing, or occurring; beinghood. For example — In order to destroy evil, we must first acknowledge its existence.

What is the IPA transcription of "existence"?

/ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ in American English.

Which syllable is stressed in "existence"?

“existence” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ 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.