English pronunciation · Words Starting with C

Criticise Pronunciation

Criticise is pronounced KRI-ti-syz, IPA /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/.

KRI-ti-syz

US /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/  ·  UK /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/

Syllables: KRI · ti · syz (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

verb: To say what you think is wrong with someone or something.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Criticise in a Sentence

  • It is easy to criticise a plan you had no part in making.
  • She was criticised for missing the deadline.
  • Nobody likes to be criticised in front of colleagues.

Common Mispronunciations of Criticise

Not kri-TI-syz

The opening syllable is the strong one, inherited from critic. Moving the beat to the middle is the most frequent error.

Not KRI-ti-sis

The ending is a full syz, rhyming with size. The s in -ise is a z sound here, as it is in advertise and realise.

Tip: Criticise and criticize are the same word. British publishers favour the s, American ones the z, and the sound never changes.

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