Heteronym

How do you pronounce "entrance"?

"Entrance" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say EN-trans when it means a doorway or way in (noun), and en-TRANS when it means to fill with delight, to enchant (verb). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

Hear both pronunciations

noun

EN-trans

a doorway or way in

Meet me at the entrance.

verb

en-TRANS

to fill with delight, to enchant

The music will entrance you.

Each button speaks the respelling, not the spelling — otherwise the speech engine would pick a single default pronunciation for both senses.

Side by side

PronunciationPart of speechMeaning
EN-transnouna doorway or way in
en-TRANSverbto fill with delight, to enchant

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "entrance"?

"Entrance" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say EN-trans when it means a doorway or way in (noun), and en-TRANS when it means to fill with delight, to enchant (verb). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

What does "entrance" mean when it is pronounced EN-trans?

Pronounced EN-trans, "entrance" is a noun meaning a doorway or way in. For example: "Meet me at the entrance."

What does "entrance" mean when it is pronounced en-TRANS?

Pronounced en-TRANS, "entrance" is a verb meaning to fill with delight, to enchant. For example: "The music will entrance you."

Why does "entrance" have two pronunciations?

"Entrance" is a heteronym: two distinct words that happen to be spelled the same way. English spelling did not standardise around pronunciation, so unrelated words sometimes converged on one spelling while keeping separate sounds.

More heteronyms

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See the full entry for “entrance, browse all 76 heteronyms and stress pairs, or learn how English stress works.