How to Pronounce “maintenance”

American (US)

/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/

British (UK)

/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/

noun — The work of keeping something in good condition.

Example: The lift is closed for maintenance.

Synonyms: upkeep, servicing

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “maintenance” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “maintenance” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ 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. /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ 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 "maintenance" mean?

maintenance (noun): The work of keeping something in good condition. For example — The lift is closed for maintenance.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "maintenance", /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/, 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 "maintenance"?

/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ in American English, /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "maintenance"?

“maintenance” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ 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.