2 syllables: Re, sign. Stress on sign.
riz-EYEN
/ɹɪˈzaɪn/
Resign is pronounced riz-EYEN (/ɹɪˈzaɪn/). It has two syllables (Re-sign), with the stress on "sign". Resign is a verb meaning to voluntarily leave a job or position, often formally. It can also mean to give up a charge or claim. The pronunciation centers on two syllables, with stress on the second syllable in most uses when referring to leaving a job, forming a distinct verb-accent pattern in connected speech.
verbResign is a verb meaning to voluntarily leave a job or position, often formally. It can also mean to give up a charge or claim. The pronunciation centers on two syllables, with stress on the second syllable in most uses when referring to leaving a job, forming a distinct verb-accent pattern in connected speech.
"She decided to resign from her role after five years of service."
"The board accepted his resignation letter last Friday."
"If you’re unhappy, you can resign rather than be dismissed."
Pronounce it as rɪˈzaɪn in US and UK English, with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a short “ri” like in red, and the second syllable contains the diphthong /aɪ/ as in “eye.” The overall rhythm is weak-STRONG on the second syllable. Audio references: you can compare via Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries; you’ll hear the two-syllable pattern clearly in natural sentences.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying RE-zine with the emphasis on the first syllable) and mispronouncing the /ɪˈzaɪn/ portion (you might say /ˈrɛzɪn/ or mispronounce the diphthong as a pure /i/). Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ɪˈzaɪn/ or rɪˈzaɪn, pronounce the /z/ clearly, and ensure the /zaɪn/ part has the /aɪ/ diphthong33, not a plain /a/ or /i/. Practice the sequence ri- + zine with the mouth closing slightly at end to emphasize the /n/ closure.
In US/UK, the pronunciation centers on /ɪˈzaɪn/ with vowel quality slightly different: US /ɪ/ is lax, UK may be slightly tighter; rhoticity is not a major factor here as the word does not end with an rhotic vowel. Australian English follows similar to UK/US but with a broader /ɪ/ and a more centralized /aɪ/. Overall, the rhyme and stress patterns stay constant, but vowel quality and duration can vary subtly by accent.
The difficulty lies in the contrastive vowel length and diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable, plus keeping the stress on the second syllable in rapid speech. People often misplace stress on the first syllable and turn the second syllable into /zain/ or mispronounce /ɪˈzaɪn/. Focus on the /ɪ/ initial sound, then glide into /zaɪn/ with a clean /z/ and clear /aɪ/ diphthong.
Resign’ first syllable is a quick, light /rɪ/ or /rə/ in connected speech; the second syllable carries the nucleus /zaɪn/. The consonants in rapid speech can merge with the next word, so you may hear /ɹɪˈzaɪn/ or /rɪˈzaɪn/ depending on the speaker. Ensure mouth opens for /aɪ/ and finishes with an audible /n/ for the final syllable.
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Resign comes from the Latin resignare, meaning to unmark, undo, or abandon. The Latin re- (back, again) combined with signare (to seal, mark, or sign) gave an idea of undoing a seal or declaration. In English, resign entered legal and formal parlance in the Middle English period, retaining the sense of withdrawing from a charge, role, or obligation. The word evolved through French influence (se resigner) and settled into modern English with two pronunciations tied to noun-verb differentiation: re-SINE (verb) or RE-zine in some contexts, though the standard modern pronunciation for the verb adheres to re- + sign, with stress typically on the second syllable when used as a verb meaning to quit a job. First known use in print appears in late medieval or early modern English documents referencing formal withdrawal or renunciation of office, aligning with legal language of resignation letters and official acts. Over time, it broadened to general withdrawal from any position or belief, while preserving the core meaning of giving up or stepping away. In contemporary usage, it remains a formal act, distinct from simple quitting or abandoning in informal speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Resign" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Resign"
-ign sounds
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