How to pronounce compline
Say it like KOMP-lin. Compline has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOMP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce compline. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOMP
- lin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Compline pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOMPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- linKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of compline
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOMP-lin.
What does compline mean?
- The last of the canonical hours, sung just before retiring to bed.
Where does compline come from?
From Middle English compelin, cumplie, from Old French complie, from Latin complēta (hōra) (literally “finished hour”).
Questions about saying compline
How do you pronounce compline?
Say KOMP-lin. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑmplɪn/. In British English it is /ˈkɒmplɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in compline?
Compline has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOMP). Broken into parts: KOMP · lin.
Is compline pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒmplɪn/ (KOMP-lin).