How to pronounce compassionate
Say it like kum-PASH-uh-nut. Compassionate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PASH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce compassionate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- PASH
- uh
- nut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Compassionate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PASHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of compassionate
American and British speakers say compassionate in essentially the same way: /kəmˈpæʃənət/ in the US and /kəmˈpæʃənət/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-PASH-uh-nut.
What does compassionate mean?
- share the suffering of
- showing or having compassion“heard the soft and compassionate voices of women”
Where does compassionate come from?
Pseudo-Latinism, derived from a pseudo-Latin form of French compassionné, past participle of compassionner (“to feel sorry for”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with compassionate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of compassionate.
Questions about saying compassionate
How do you pronounce compassionate?
Say kum-PASH-uh-nut. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈpæʃənət/. In British English it is /kəmˈpæʃənət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in compassionate?
Compassionate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PASH). Broken into parts: kum · PASH · uh · nut.
Do Americans and Brits say compassionate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈpæʃənət/ and the British form is /kəmˈpæʃənət/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.