How to pronounce espousal
Say it like uh-SPOW-zul. Espousal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce espousal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SPOW
- zul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Espousal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SPOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- zulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of espousal
American and British speakers say espousal in essentially the same way: /əˈspaʊzəl/ in the US and /əˈspaʊzəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-SPOW-zul.
What does espousal mean?
- A betrothal.
- A wedding ceremony.
- Adoption of a plan, cause, or idea.
Where does espousal come from?
From Middle English espousal, espousaille, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia (“a betrothal”), neuter plural of sponsalis, from spōnsus (“one betrothed, a spouse”); see spouse.
Words that rhyme with espousal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of espousal.
Questions about saying espousal
How do you pronounce espousal?
Say uh-SPOW-zul. The American pronunciation is /əˈspaʊzəl/. In British English it is /əˈspaʊzəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in espousal?
Espousal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOW). Broken into parts: uh · SPOW · zul.
Do Americans and Brits say espousal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈspaʊzəl/ and the British form is /əˈspaʊzəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.