A multi-layered speech recognition apparatus and method, the apparatus includes a client checking whether the client recognizes the speech using a characteristic of speech to be recognized and recognizing the speech or transmitting the characteristic of the speech according to a checked result; and first through N-th servers, wherein the first server checks whether the first server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from the client, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result, and wherein an n-th (2≦n≦N) server checks whether the n-th server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from an (n−1)-th server, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result.