How to pronounce imperial
Say it like im-PIR-ee-ul. Imperial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce imperial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PIR
- ee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Imperial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of imperial
American and British speakers say imperial in essentially the same way: /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/ in the US and /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-PEER-ree-ul.
What does imperial mean?
- relating to or associated with an empire“imperial colony”“the imperial gallon was standardized legally throughout the British Empire”
- of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights and measures
- befitting or belonging to an emperor or empress“imperial palace”
- a small tufted beard worn by Emperor Napoleon III
- a piece of luggage carried on top of a coach
Where does imperial come from?
From Middle English imperial, from Old French imperial, from Latin imperiālis (“of the empire or emperor, imperial”), from imperium (“empire, imperial government”) + -ālis, from imperō (“command, order”), from im- (“form of in”) + parō (“pr
Words that rhyme with imperial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of imperial.
Questions about saying imperial
How do you pronounce imperial?
Say im-PIR-ee-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/. In British English it is /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in imperial?
Imperial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PIR). Broken into parts: im · PIR · ee · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say imperial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/ and the British form is /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.