How to Pronounce “fiscal”

American (US)

/ˈfɪskəl/

British (UK)

/ˈfɪskəl/

adjective — Relating to government revenue, spending and taxation.

Example: The fiscal year ends in March.

Synonyms: financial, budgetary

Where the stress falls. “fiscal” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈfɪskəl/ 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. /ˈfɪskəl/ 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 "fiscal" mean?

fiscal (adjective): Relating to government revenue, spending and taxation. For example — The fiscal year ends in March.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "fiscal", /ˈfɪskəl/, 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 "fiscal"?

/ˈfɪskəl/ in American English, /ˈfɪskəl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "fiscal"?

“fiscal” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈfɪskəl/ 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.