How to pronounce malapropos
Say it like mal-a-pruh-POH. Malapropos has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (POH).
- mal
- a
- pruh
- POH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Malapropos pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- malGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- aKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- POHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of malapropos
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: mal-a-pruh-POH.
What does malapropos mean?
- out of place; inappropriate
- out of place; inappropriately
Where does malapropos come from?
From French mal à propos, from mal (“bad, badly”) and à propos (“appropriate, relevant”).
Words that rhyme with malapropos
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of malapropos.
Questions about saying malapropos
How do you pronounce malapropos?
Say mal-a-pruh-POH. The American pronunciation is /ˌmælæprəˈpoʊ/. In British English it is /ˌmælæprəˈpəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in malapropos?
Malapropos has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (POH). Broken into parts: mal · a · pruh · POH.
Is malapropos pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˌmælæprəˈpəʊ/ (mal-a-pruh-POH).