How to Pronounce Essential

To pronounce "essential", say ess-ENT-ial — 3 syllables, IPA /ɛˈsɛnʃəɫ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

essential

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

9

Letters

/ɛˈsɛnʃəɫ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “essential”

Break "essential" into 3 beats and lean on "ENT" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with consequential and inconsequential, if that helps it stick.

What does essential mean?

noun

  1. A necessary ingredient.
  2. A fundamental ingredient.

adjective

  1. Necessary.
  2. Very important; of high importance.

Synonyms

crucialindispensable

Antonyms

accessorialaccidentalincidentalunnecessaryunneededadscititious

Hear “essential” 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 essential

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

consequentialinconsequentialpotentialdeferentialquintessentialinfluentialprovidentialtorrentialtangentialsequentialreverentialconfidential

Related words

necessaryrequisitenecessityrequirementmustbasicimportantall-important

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "essential"?▾

"Essential" has 3 syllables: ess · ent · ial.

What is the IPA transcription of "essential"?▾

The IPA transcription of "essential" is /ɛˈsɛnʃəɫ/.

What does "essential" mean?▾

Essential: A necessary ingredient.

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