How to Pronounce Sympathy

"Sympathy" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ˈsɪmpəθi/ in IPA and it has 3 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

sympathy

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying sympathy, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈsɪmpəθi/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/sˈɪmpəθi/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “sympathy

"sympathy" has 3 syllables: sympathy.

What does sympathy mean?

noun

  1. A feeling of pity or sorrow for the suffering or distress of another.
  2. The formal expression of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Keep practicing

Related pages on PronounceIt, chosen from what we know about this word.

Train the contrast: three vs tree, think vs sink

Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

Read next: How to Pronounce the TH Sound (Both of Them)

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "sympathy"?

"Sympathy" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ˈsɪmpəθi/ in IPA and it has 3 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

How many syllables are in "sympathy"?

"Sympathy" has 3 syllables.

What is the IPA transcription of "sympathy"?

The IPA transcription of "sympathy" is /ˈsɪmpəθi/.

What does "sympathy" mean?

Sympathy: A feeling of pity or sorrow for the suffering or distress of another.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “sympathy” in the full dictionary →