2 syllables: Ex, haust. Stress on haust.
ig-ZAWST
/ɪˈɡzɔst/
Exhaust is pronounced ig-ZAWST (/ɪˈɡzɔst/). It has two syllables (Ex-haust), with the stress on "haust". Exhaust (noun) refers to the system or component that emits waste gases from an engine or machine; it also denotes the act of using up completely or wearing something out. In technical contexts, it names the exhaust system leading away from the combustion chamber. In everyday use, it can describe fatigue or depletion after strenuous activity.
nounExhaust (noun) refers to the system or component that emits waste gases from an engine or machine; it also denotes the act of using up completely or wearing something out. In technical contexts, it names the exhaust system leading away from the combustion chamber. In everyday use, it can describe fatigue or depletion after strenuous activity.
How to Pronounce Exhaust
"The car’s exhaust system released a faint hiss as I started the engine."
"After the long hike, she felt a wave of exhaustion despite a little rest."
"The factory installed a new exhaust pipe to reduce emissions and noise."
Exhaust is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/ (US) or /ɪɡˈzɔːst/ (UK). Stress is on the first syllable in the noun sense (EX-haust) and secondary stress on -haust in some compound phrases. Start with a short, crisp /ɛ/ or /ɪ/ depending on dialect, then move smoothly into /ɡzɔst/. The 'xz' cluster sounds as /ɡz/; end with /st/. You’ll hear the exhaust system pronounced as /ˈɪgˌzɔːst/ in UK technical contexts and /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/ more commonly in US automotive speech. Audio examples help: when you hear it, focus on the transition from the stop to the fricative /z/ and the final /t/. IPA references: US /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/, UK /ɪɡˈzɔːst/, AU /ˈekˌstɒst/.”,
Common errors: misplacing the stress (saying EX-haust with equal emphasis), merging /gz/ into a simple /s/ or /z/ (saying /ˈeɡzɔst/ or /ˈeɡsɔst/), and mispronouncing the final /st/ as /t/ or /d/. Correction: keep the /z/ as a voiced fricative in the middle cluster /ɡz/ and finish with a crisp /t/. Practice saying /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/ slowly, then increase to natural pace, ensuring the tongue taps the alveolar ridge for /t/ without voicing. For non-native speakers, ensure the /z/ doesn’t soften to /s/. Audio drills and minimal pairs with “egg zost” can help you lock the /ɡz/ sequence accurately.
Accent differences center on vowel quality and the presence of rhoticity. US speakers typically produce /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/ with a mid-back /ɔ/ vowel and rhotic influence in connected speech, UK speakers tend to use /ɪɡˈzɔːst/ with a longer, rounded /ɔː/ in the second syllable and non-rhoticity in some dialects, while Australian tends to blend more with /ˈekˌstɒst/ or /ˈɪɡˌzɒst/ depending on region and formality, with vowels sometimes closer to /ɒ/ or /ɔː/. The consonant cluster /ɡz/ remains consistent, but vowel length and quality shift. You’ll notice US pronunciation often sounds quicker with a tighter /z/ transition; UK may have a crisper /z/ and longer vowel; AU may show more centralized or broader vowel qualities. Reference IPA: US ˈɛɡˌzɔst, UK ɪɡˈzɔːst, AU ˈekˌstɒst.
Two main challenges: the /ɡz/ cluster is less common in English and can lead to mispronunciations like /gz/ or simply /gz/ being reduced. The vowel in the second syllable changes with accent: /ɔ/ vs /ɔː/ and the /st/ release can be rushed, blurring the end. Additionally, the noun’s first-syllable stress can cause learners to misplace stress on the second syllable. Focusing on the distinct /ɡz/ sequence and crisp stop release at the end, plus practicing the two-syllable rhythm in isolation, helps. IPA anchors: /ˈɛɡˌzɔst/ (US) or /ɪɡˈzɔːst/ (UK).
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Exhaust as a noun derives from Old French eschauster ‘to exhaust, to deplete’ from eschauste or eschaustre, linked with the sense of drawing off air or gases. The English noun form appeared in the late 14th century, originally referencing the act of drawing off vapors or air from a container or engine. By the 17th century, exhaust began to denote the channel or pipe through which waste gases are expelled from engines. In modern usage, the term spans two main domains: mechanical engineering (the exhaust system that discharges combustion byproducts) and figurative weariness (great fatigue). The word’s development tracks the broader metaphor of “draining” or “taking out” something, extending from physical venting to the depletion of energy or resources. The evolution shows a stable core meaning—removal of gas or energy—while its semantic field expanded to describe fatigue and, in everyday speech, the components associated with engine exhaust and emissions became specialized terms (exhaust manifold, exhaust pipe, catalytic converter). First attested senses emphasize venting vapor; later senses emphasize the artifact (system) and the state (exhausted) tied to depletion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exhaust" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Exhaust" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Exhaust"
-ast sounds
-ost sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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