Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce anise

AN-iss - two syllables, like 'Janice' without the 'J'

US/ˈæn.ɪs/

ænɪs

UK/ˈæn.ɪs/

ænɪs

New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.

Common mistake

Not 'uh-NEECE' or 'AN-ice'; it rhymes with 'Janice'.

What “anise” means

An umbelliferous plant (Pimpinella anisum) growing naturally in Egypt, and cultivated in Spain, Malta, etc., for its carminative and aromatic seeds, which are used as a spice. It has a licorice scent.

Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare.

In a sentence

  • She added ground anise to the bread for its licorice aroma.
  • In many desserts, anise is used to give a warm, aromatic flavor.

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Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.