Skip to main content
Commonly Confused

How to Pronounce patience vs patients

Key Pronunciation Contrast

Homophones (⁄ˈpeɪ.ʃəns⁄): ‘patience’ is calm endurance; ‘patients’ are individuals receiving medical care.

Contrast: Homophones: identical ⁄ˈpeɪ.ʃəns⁄

patience

⁄ˈpeɪʃəns⁄

Syllables

PA·tience

Definition:

The quality of being patient.

“Musical perfection requires practice and a lot of patience.”

patients

⁄ˈpeɪʃənts⁄

Syllables

PA·tients

Definition:

Persons receiving medical care or treatment from a doctor, nurse, or hospital.

“The hospital admitted several new patients to the emergency ward this morning.”

Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training

80 total video examples
Listen separately:

Frequently Asked Questions: patience vs patients

What is the difference in pronunciation between "patience" and "patients"?

Homophones (⁄ˈpeɪ.ʃəns⁄): ‘patience’ is calm endurance; ‘patients’ are individuals receiving medical care.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "patience" vs "patients"?

"patience" has 2 syllable(s) (pa · tience) with stress on "PA". "patients" has 2 syllable(s) (pa · tients) with stress on "PA".

Why do English learners often confuse "patience" and "patients"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Homophones: identical ⁄ˈpeɪ.ʃəns⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "patience" and "patients"?

Example for "patience": "Musical perfection requires practice and a lot of patience." Example for "patients": "The hospital admitted several new patients to the emergency ward this morning."