American Measurements & Units Pronunciation Guide: Pounds, Fahrenheit, Cups, and More

Moving to or visiting the United States means encountering a completely different measurement system. Miles instead of kilometers, Fahrenheit instead of Celsius, pounds instead of kilograms, cups instead of milliliters. Most of the world uses the metric system, but the US still operates on its own customary system for everyday life. Beyond understanding what these units mean, you need to pronounce them correctly if you want to be understood at the grocery store, the doctor's office, or while following a recipe.

This guide covers the pronunciation of every common American measurement unit, organized by context. You will learn the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for each word, discover how Americans actually say measurements in conversation, and practice with interactive cards. Let us get started.

Length and Distance

The US does not use centimeters or kilometers in daily life. Instead, Americans measure short lengths in inches and feet, and longer distances in miles. Here are the key words you need to know.

The Core Units

The word inch /ɪntʃ/ has the short I vowel /ɪ/ followed by the /ntʃ/ cluster. The plural inches /ˈɪntʃɪz/ adds the /ɪz/ ending because the word ends in a "ch" sound. A single inch is about 2.54 centimeters.

The word foot /fʊt/ uses the short OO vowel /ʊ/ (as in "book" or "good"), not the long OO /uː/ (as in "food" or "moon"). One foot equals 12 inches, or about 30.5 centimeters. The plural is feet /fiːt/, which is irregular. Notice the vowel changes entirely: /ʊ/ becomes /iː/. However, when Americans state someone's height, they often use the singular "foot" even with numbers greater than one: "I'm five foot ten" (meaning 5 feet and 10 inches).

The word yard /jɑːrd/ begins with the /j/ sound (like the "y" in "yes"). One yard equals 3 feet or about 0.91 meters. You will hear this word a lot in sports ("a 50-yard line") and real estate ("a big backyard").

The word mile /maɪl/ is one syllable and rhymes with "smile." One mile is about 1.6 kilometers. This is the standard unit for road distances in the US. Signs, GPS navigation, and speed limits all use miles.

The word height /haɪt/ is tricky because the "gh" is completely silent. It sounds exactly like "hite." Many English learners try to pronounce the "gh," but there is no /g/ or /x/ sound in this word at all.

How Americans Say Length Measurements

Understanding the units is one thing, but hearing how Americans actually use them in conversation is equally important. Here are common patterns:

• "I'm five foot ten" or "I'm five ten" (5'10") for height. Note: Americans almost always use feet and inches for height, never centimeters.
• "It's about two miles away" for driving distance.
• "The room is twelve by fifteen feet" (12 x 15 ft) for room dimensions.
• "Give me about six inches" when asking for a length.

Weight

Americans do not use kilograms in daily life. Instead, they use pounds and ounces. The abbreviations for these units are unusual because they come from Latin, but Americans always say the English words.

The Core Units

The word ounce /aʊns/ contains the /aʊ/ diphthong (the same vowel sound as in "house" or "out"). It is abbreviated as "oz" in writing, but you should never say "oz." Always say "ounce" or "ounces" /ˈaʊnsɪz/. One ounce is about 28 grams.

The word pound /paʊnd/ also uses the /aʊ/ diphthong. It is abbreviated as "lb" (from the Latin word "libra"), but you always say "pound" or "pounds" /paʊndz/. One pound equals 16 ounces, or about 454 grams (roughly half a kilogram).

The word ton /tʌn/ is one syllable with the short U vowel /ʌ/ (the same vowel as "cup" or "bus"). An American ton (sometimes called a "short ton") is 2,000 pounds, or about 907 kilograms.

Two related words are important here. The verb weigh /weɪ/ has a silent "gh" and sounds exactly like "way." The noun weight /weɪt/ also has a silent "gh" and sounds exactly like "wait." The word scale /skeɪl/ (the device you stand on to measure weight) begins with the /sk/ consonant cluster.

How Americans Say Weight

• "I weigh 170 pounds" or simply "I weigh 170" (dropping the unit is very common).
• "A quarter pound of cheese" means 4 ounces.
• "She weighs about 130" (one hundred thirty).
• "I need to lose ten pounds" (a very common phrase!).

Temperature

If you come from a country that uses Celsius (which is almost every country except the US), American temperature readings will seem confusing at first. Americans use Fahrenheit for weather, cooking, and body temperature. Learning to pronounce these words correctly is essential for daily life.

The Core Units

The word Fahrenheit /ˈfærənhaɪt/ has three syllables: FAR-en-hite. The first syllable has the /æ/ vowel (as in "cat"), the second syllable is an unstressed schwa /ən/, and the third syllable rhymes with "height" (the "heit" is pronounced /haɪt/ with a silent second "h" blending into the vowel). A common mistake is saying "FAR-en-height" with too much emphasis on the final syllable. Keep the stress on the first syllable.

The word Celsius /ˈsɛlsiəs/ also has three syllables: SEL-see-us. Even though Americans rarely use Celsius, they understand it and you may need to convert: 32°F = 0°C (freezing), 72°F = 22°C (comfortable room temperature), 212°F = 100°C (boiling).

The word degree /dɪˈɡriː/ has two syllables with stress on the second: dih-GREE. The word thermometer /θərˈmɑːmɪtər/ has four syllables: ther-MOM-ih-ter. It begins with the /θ/ (voiceless TH) sound and the stress falls on the second syllable.

How Americans Say Temperature

• "It's 72 degrees" (a comfortable room temperature). Americans often drop "Fahrenheit" because it is assumed.
• "It's below zero" (extremely cold, below 0°F, which is -18°C).
• "It hit 100 today" (very hot, said as "one hundred").
• "I have a fever of 101" (meaning 101°F or 38.3°C; normal body temperature is 98.6°F).

Volume and Liquid

Americans measure liquids in gallons, quarts, and pints rather than liters. You will encounter these units constantly at the grocery store, at gas stations, and in recipes.

The Core Units

The word gallon /ˈɡælən/ has two syllables: GAL-un. The first syllable has the /æ/ vowel (as in "cat"). One gallon is about 3.78 liters. Americans buy milk, water, and gasoline by the gallon.

The word quart /kwɔːrt/ is one syllable. It starts with the /kw/ cluster (the QU combination). One quart is a quarter of a gallon, or about 0.95 liters.

The word pint /paɪnt/ is a common pronunciation trap. It does NOT rhyme with "mint" or "hint." It rhymes with "dine" plus a /t/: the vowel is /aɪ/ (the same as in "time" or "mile"). One pint is half a quart, or about 473 milliliters. Americans commonly buy ice cream by the pint.

The word fluid /ˈfluːɪd/ has two syllables: FLOO-id. You will see it in "fluid ounce" (fl oz), which is a unit of liquid volume. The word liter /ˈliːtər/ follows the American spelling (not "litre") and has two syllables: LEE-ter. While the US does not officially use liters, you will see them on soda bottles (a 2-liter bottle of Coke is standard).

How Americans Say Volume

• "A gallon of milk" (the most common way you will hear "gallon").
• "A pint of ice cream" (Ben and Jerry's, Haagen-Dazs, etc.).
• "A quart of oil" (for car engines).
• "A 2-liter of Coke" (said as "a two-liter of Coke").

Cooking Measurements (Essential for Daily Life!)

If you live in the US and ever follow a recipe, you will encounter a unique set of measurement words. American recipes use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons rather than grams and milliliters. These words come up constantly, not just in cooking but also on food packaging and in nutrition labels.

The Core Units

The word cup /kʌp/ uses the short U vowel /ʌ/. In American cooking, a "cup" is a specific measurement: 8 fluid ounces, or about 237 milliliters. It is not just any drinking cup from your cupboard. American kitchens have special measuring cups for this purpose.

The word tablespoon /ˈteɪbəlspuːn/ is a compound word with three syllables: TAY-bul-spoon. It is abbreviated as "tbsp" in recipes, but you always say "tablespoon." One tablespoon is about 15 milliliters.

The word teaspoon /ˈtiːspuːn/ has two syllables: TEE-spoon. It is abbreviated as "tsp" in recipes. One teaspoon is about 5 milliliters, or one-third of a tablespoon.

The word pinch /pɪntʃ/ means a very small amount, typically what you can hold between your thumb and forefinger. "A pinch of salt" is one of the most common cooking phrases.

The word dash /dæʃ/ means a small splash of a liquid ingredient. It is slightly more than a pinch but still not a measured amount.

The word dozen /ˈdʌzən/ means 12 items. The "z" is voiced, and the second syllable is a schwa. Americans buy eggs by the dozen: "a dozen eggs" means 12 eggs.

The word recipe /ˈrɛsɪpi/ is a common pronunciation trap. It has three syllables: RES-ih-pee. The final "e" is NOT silent (unlike most English words ending in "e"). Many learners say "reh-SIPE" with two syllables, which is incorrect.

The word ingredient /ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/ has four syllables: in-GREE-dee-ent. The stress is on the second syllable.

How Americans Say Cooking Measurements

• "Add two cups of flour" (the most common recipe instruction pattern).
• "A tablespoon of olive oil."
• "A pinch of salt."
• "A dozen eggs" (always means 12).
• "Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract."

Speed and Area

Speed limits in the US are posted in miles per hour, and land is measured in acres and square feet. These terms come up in driving, real estate, and everyday conversation.

The Core Units

The phrase miles per hour /maɪlz pɜːr aʊr/ is abbreviated as "mph." Americans sometimes say the full phrase and sometimes spell out the letters "M-P-H." Both are common. The word per /pɜːr/ uses the /ɜːr/ vowel (the same sound as in "her" or "bird").

The word acre /ˈeɪkər/ has two syllables: AY-ker. It sounds nothing like it looks. One acre is about 4,047 square meters, or roughly the size of a football field (not exactly, but that is the common American comparison).

The word square /skwɛr/ is one syllable. It starts with the /skw/ cluster. "Square feet" and "square miles" are standard units for area. Real estate listings always give home sizes in square feet.

How Americans Say These

• "The speed limit is 65 miles per hour" or "The speed limit is 65."
• "A five-acre property" (used in real estate).
• "A 1,500 square foot apartment" (said as "fifteen hundred square foot").
• "I was doing 80 on the highway" (meaning 80 miles per hour).

Common Abbreviation Pronunciation

One of the most confusing aspects of American measurements is that abbreviations are everywhere in writing, but Americans almost never say the abbreviation out loud. They say the full word instead. Here is a complete guide:

Quick Reference Table

Here is a comprehensive overview of all the measurement words covered in this guide, organized for quick review.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Several of these measurement words contain tricky pronunciation features that trip up learners. Here is a summary of the most common pitfalls:

Silent Letters

• height /haɪt/: The "gh" is silent. Do not say "heg-ht" or "hay-ght."
• weigh /weɪ/: The "gh" is silent. Sounds exactly like "way."
• weight /weɪt/: The "gh" is silent. Sounds exactly like "wait."

Surprising Vowels

• pint /paɪnt/: The vowel is /aɪ/ (like "pine"), NOT /ɪ/ (like "pin"). This is one of the few words where "int" is pronounced /aɪnt/.
• foot /fʊt/: Uses the short /ʊ/ (as in "book"), not the long /uː/ (as in "food").

Abbreviations You Never Pronounce

• Never say "oz" out loud. Always say "ounce."
• Never say "lb" out loud. Always say "pound."
• Never say "tbsp" or "tsp" out loud. Always say "tablespoon" or "teaspoon."

Practice Tips for Different Language Backgrounds

Tips for Spanish Speakers

The word "ounce" contains the /aʊ/ diphthong, which is the same vowel sound as in "house" and "out." Make sure your mouth moves from the open /a/ position to the /ʊ/ position. Also, be careful not to add an "e" sound before words that start with "s" clusters: say "scale" /skeɪl/, not "escale"; say "square" /skwɛr/, not "esquare"; say "speed" /spiːd/, not "espeed."

Tips for Portuguese Speakers

Watch out for the TH sound in "thermometer" /θərˈmɑːmɪtər/. Brazilian Portuguese does not have the /θ/ sound, so you may want to substitute /t/ or /f/, but the correct sound is made by placing your tongue between your teeth and blowing air. Also pay attention to the silent "gh" in "height" and "weight" since Portuguese does not typically have these silent letter patterns.

Tips for French Speakers

The word "Fahrenheit" does not follow French pronunciation rules despite its Germanic origin. In English, it is /ˈfærənhaɪt/, not the French-influenced pronunciation you might expect. The /h/ sound at the beginning of "height" must be pronounced (unlike in French where "h" is always silent). Also, stress patterns in English measurement words are very different from French: "thermometer" has stress on the second syllable (/θərˈmɑːmɪtər/), not evenly distributed as it might be in French.

Putting It All Together

The American measurement system can feel overwhelming at first, but you will encounter these words so frequently in daily life that they will quickly become familiar. Here are a few final tips for mastering these pronunciations:

• Listen for them in context. Watch American cooking shows, listen to weather forecasts, and pay attention to road signs. Real-world exposure is the best practice.
• Practice the tricky ones first. Focus on the words with surprising pronunciations: "pint" /paɪnt/, "height" /haɪt/, "recipe" /ˈrɛsɪpi/, and "Fahrenheit" /ˈfærənhaɪt/.
• Remember the abbreviation rule. When you see oz, lb, ft, tbsp, or tsp in writing, always say the full word out loud.
• Use the measurement words in sentences. Do not just memorize individual words. Practice saying full phrases like "a gallon of milk," "five foot ten," and "85 degrees Fahrenheit."

With consistent practice, you will be ordering deli meat by the pound, checking the temperature in Fahrenheit, and following American recipes with confidence. The measurement system may be different from what you are used to, but the pronunciation does not have to be a mystery.