How to pronounce impervious
Say it like im-PUR-vee-us. Impervious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impervious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PUR
- vee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impervious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of impervious
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: im-PUR-vee-us.
What does impervious mean?
- Unaffected or unable to be affected by something.“The man was completely impervious to the deception we were trying.”
- Preventive of any penetration; impenetrable, impermeable, particularly of water.“Although patchworked and sagging, the roof proved impervious to the weather.”
- Immune to damage or effect.“The old car seemed to be impervious to the wear and tear of age.”
Where does impervious come from?
From Latin impervius (“that cannot be passed through”), from in- (“not”) + pervius (“letting things through”).
Questions about saying impervious
How do you pronounce impervious?
Say im-PUR-vee-us. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɝviəs/. In British English it is /ɪmˈpɜːviəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impervious?
Impervious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PUR). Broken into parts: im · PUR · vee · us.
Is impervious pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɪmˈpɜːviəs/ (im-PUR-vee-us).