How to Pronounce “synchronous”

American (US)

/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/

British (UK)

/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/

Australian (AU)

/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/

adjective — At the same time, at the same frequency.

Where the stress falls. “synchronous” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ 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. /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ 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 "synchronous" mean?

synchronous (adjective): At the same time, at the same frequency.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "synchronous", /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/, 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 "synchronous"?

/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ in American English, /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ in British English, /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "synchronous"?

“synchronous” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ 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.