Word Differences
Advice vs. Advise: What’s the Difference?
Advice is the noun, advise is the verb. Learn the pronunciation difference and how to never mix them up again.
By Vocabaura Editorial · Published 14 August 2026 · 5 min read
Quick answer
Advice (rhymes with “ice”) is a noun, a suggestion or recommendation. Advise (rhymes with “eyes”) is a verb, to give a suggestion or recommendation.
Advice and advise are spelled almost identically, and in speech many accents make them sound close enough to blur. The good news is that the pattern behind them, noun ends in “-ice,” verb ends in “-ise”, is shared by a small family of English word pairs, so once it clicks, it stays fixed.
Advice: Meaning and Use
Advice (uhd-VYSS) is a noun meaning a recommendation or opinion offered as guidance. It’s uncountable, you don’t say “an advice” or “advices,” you say “a piece of advice” or “some advice.”
- Thanks for the advice, it really helped.
- Can I give you a piece of advice?
- Her advice was to wait until the market settled.
Advise: Meaning and Use
Advise (uhd-VYZE) is a verb meaning to offer a recommendation or to inform someone officially. The “s” is pronounced like a “z.”
- I advise you to read the contract carefully.
- The lawyer advised against signing immediately.
- Please advise us of any changes to your address.
Which Word Should I Use?
If the word is a thing you can receive or give, “good advice,” “take my advice”, it’s the noun, advice. If the word describes the action of recommending, “I advise,” “she advised”, it’s the verb, advise. Listen for the sound: a soft “s” signals the noun, a “z” sound signals the verb.
| Advice | Advise | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Noun | Verb |
| Pronunciation | uhd-VYSS (soft s) | uhd-VYZE (z sound) |
| Countable? | No, uncountable | N/A (verb) |
| Example | That’s useful advice. | I advise caution. |
Quick check
Which word completes this sentence?
“My accountant will ___ me on taxes. (______)”
Free practice, no account or AI credits needed. Keep reading below.
Common Mistakes
- “Let me advice you” should be “let me advise you.”
- “He gave me an advise” should be “he gave me some advice.”
- Writing “advices” as a plural, advice doesn’t pluralize in standard English.
- Forgetting that the noun/verb pattern also applies to “practice/practice” in British English.
Practice
Fill the blank
My accountant will ___ me on taxes. (advise)
Fill the blank
That was excellent ___. (advice)
Test yourself
0 of 4 answered
Free practice, no account or credits needed.
1. Which word is a noun?
2. “I ___ you to reconsider.”
3. How is advise pronounced?
4. Which is correct?