2 syllables: ex, port. Stress on ex.
EK-spawrt
/ˈɛkspɔɹt/
export is pronounced EK-spawrt (/ˈɛkspɔɹt/). It has two syllables (ex-port), with the stress on "ex". Export refers to sending goods or services from one country to another, typically for sale abroad, or the act of aviation or data export in computing. It can also describe the thing that is exported. In context, it usually functions as a verb or noun, with stress patterns shifting slightly by usage, and often collocates with trade, market, or export duties.
Export refers to sending goods or services from one country to another, typically for sale abroad, or the act of aviation or data export in computing. It can also describe the thing that is exported. In context, it usually functions as a verb or noun, with stress patterns shifting slightly by usage, and often collocates with trade, market, or export duties.
"We plan to export electronics to Europe next quarter."
"The export of cultural artifacts is strictly regulated by law."
"Our company increased exports to Asia after the new tariff changes."
Say EX-PORT with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈek.spɔrt/ in US and UK, /ˈek.spɔːt/ in UK non-rhotic practice for the second syllable. The first syllable uses a clear /ɛ/ or /e/ vowel without reducing; the second syllable ends with a strong /t/ release. Visualize starting with an open front vowel, then a rounded back vowel before the /rt/ cluster. For practice, say EX + PORE(T) with a light touch on the /p/ and a crisp /t/ at the end. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for native pronunciations, and Forvo for regional voices.
Two frequent errors are pronouncing the second syllable as /ɒt/ or dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Also, some speakers misplace the /p/ by turning it into /b/ or blending it with /t/ as a flap. Correct by ensuring the /sp/ sequence is intentionally separated with a light /s/ leading into the /p/ and a sharp /t/ release. Practice with minimal pairs like EX-PORT vs EX-PORT (different vowels in dialect), and use a globe-trotting dictionary to hear regional variants.
In US English, /ˈek.spɔrt/ with rhotic /r/ in the second syllable. In UK English, non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the /r/ so it sounds closer to /ˈek.spɔːt/, with a longer vowel in the second syllable. Australian English tends to be rhotic but with more centralized /ɔː/ quality and a slightly longer vowel before the final /t/. In all, the critical differences lie in rhoticity and vowel length; the consonant cluster /sp/ remains steady. Reference IPA guides for each region provide precise vowel shifts.
The main challenge is the /sp/ cluster after a stressed open syllable and the vowel quality of the second syllable. The /ɔr/ sequence requires careful lip rounding and tongue position to avoid flattening into /ɒ/ or misplacing the /r/ in non-rhotic dialects. Additionally, smoothing the transition from the front vowel /e/ to the back rounded /ɔ/ without adding an extra syllable or unintended syllabic pause requires precise timing and jaw relaxation.
The word features a trochaic pattern (strong-weak) with primary stress on the first syllable, typical for many two-syllable English words, but the second syllable contains a voiced stop /t/ that can be released crisply or softly depending on speed and register. This crisp /t/ at the end is essential for the word to be perceived as a clean, complete word rather than a clipped form. IPA cues help anchor the sound: /ˈɛkˌspɔrt/ in stressed form depending on accent.
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Export comes from the late Middle English exporten, from Old French exporter, from Latin exportare, from ex- ‘out’ + portare ‘to carry’. The term originally described goods carried out of a country for trade, aligning with shipping and commerce. Its semantic field broadened in business and technology to include data, software, or digital products leaving a country. The verb form export evolved to describe both the act of sending goods and the action of making information or products available outside a locale, while the noun export denotes the thing that is sent abroad or the act itself. First recorded usage in English traces to the 15th century in mercantile contexts, and by the 17th–18th centuries it was standard in trade language. Over time, the word retained its core maritime and trade origins but adapted to modern export controls, regulatory regimes, and global supply chains, becoming a ubiquitous term across commerce, tech, and policy discourse.
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Help others use "export" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "export" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "export" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "export"
-ort sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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