How to Pronounce Efficient

To pronounce "efficient", say eff-IC-ient — 3 syllables, IPA /ɪˈfɪʃənt/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

efficient

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ɪˈfɪʃənt/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɪfˈɪʃənt/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “efficient”

Break "efficient" into 3 beats and lean on "IC" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with proficient and deficient, if that helps it stick.

What does efficient mean?

noun

A cause; something that causes an effect

adjective

Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy
“An efficient process would automate all the routine work.”
Expressing the proportion of consumed energy that was successfully used in a process; the ratio of useful output to total input
“The motor is only 20% efficient at that temperature.”

Antonyms

inefficient

Hear “efficient” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with efficient

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

proficient deficient sufficient insufficient beneficent inefficient coefficient self-sufficient

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "efficient"?▾

"Efficient" has 3 syllables: eff · ic · ient.

What is the IPA transcription of "efficient"?▾

The IPA transcription of "efficient" is /ɪˈfɪʃənt/.

What does "efficient" mean?▾

Efficient: A cause; something that causes an effect

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