Learn How to Pronounce possess
Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!
Find your word:
Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!
How to pronounce:
possess
Phonetic Transcription:
pəˈzes
Examples:
Cecily is the first to possess the book.
Learn more about:possess
Related Words:
How to perfect your pronunciation of: possess
Learn Individual Sounds
Break possess down into individual sounds such as pəˈzes. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.
Copy Others
Use the tools above to find out how different people say possess in their accents, then try to repeat after them.
Pick an Accent
Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.
Record Yourself
Say possess in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with possess.
Get a Native Tutor
Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.
Common mistakes of possess pronunciation
- Stress confusion: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "pos-ˈsess". The correct stress is on the second syllable in both US and UK English: "pə-ˈzɛs". Tip: Remember to emphasize the "sess".
- Vowel mispronunciation: Some people mispronounce the vowel sound in the first syllable, saying "poh-ˈsess". The correct pronunciation is "pə-ˈzɛs", with a schwa sound "ə". Tip: Practice the schwa sound to improve clarity.
- Final "s" sound: A common mistake is to pronounce the final "s" as a "z", saying "pə-ˈzɛz". The correct pronunciation ends with an "s" sound: "pə-ˈzɛs". Tip: Focus on the crisp "s" sound at the end.
- Overemphasis on syllables: Some learners tend to overemphasize each syllable, resulting in a choppy pronunciation like "PO-sess". The correct flow is more fluid: "pə-ˈzɛs". Tip: Practice saying the word smoothly to maintain natural rhythm.
- Inconsistent vowel length: Learners may vary the vowel length, saying "pos-ˈes" instead of "pə-ˈzɛs". The first syllable should be shorter and less stressed. Tip: Listen to native speakers to grasp the proper vowel length.