How to pronounce compromise
Say it like KOM-pruh-myze. Compromise has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce compromise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOM
- pruh
- myze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Compromise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- myzeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of compromise
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOM-pruh-myze.
What does compromise mean?
- a middle way between two extremes
- an accommodation in which both sides make concessions“the newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they considered it `business as usual'”
- make a compromise; arrive at a compromise“nobody will get everything he wants; we all must compromise”
- settle by concession
- expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute“The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy”
Where does compromise come from?
From Middle French compromis, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin compromissum (“a compromise, originally a mutual promise to refer to arbitration”), prop.
Questions about saying compromise
How do you pronounce compromise?
Say KOM-pruh-myze. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑmprəˌmaɪz/. In British English it is /ˈkɒmprəˌmaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in compromise?
Compromise has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOM). Broken into parts: KOM · pruh · myze.
Is compromise 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 /ˈkɒmprəˌmaɪz/ (KOM-pruh-myze).