How to pronounce nonpareil
Say it like non-puh-REL. Nonpareil has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nonpareil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- non
- puh
- REL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nonpareil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nonGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of nonpareil
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: non-puh-RAYL.
What does nonpareil mean?
- Unequalled, unrivalled; unique.
- A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.
- The blue underwing or Clifden nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species of moth distributed across the Palearctic; also (obsolete) any of a number of moths of other species.
- A painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a brightly-colored finch native to North America.
Where does nonpareil come from?
Noun sense 4 (size of type standardized at 6-point) is usually taken to derive from the attractive type cut by the brothers Giovanni and Gregorio De Gregori (fl.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with nonpareil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nonpareil.
Questions about saying nonpareil
How do you pronounce nonpareil?
Say non-puh-REL. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɑnpəˈrɛl/. In British English it is /nɒnpəˈreɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nonpareil?
Nonpareil has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REL). Broken into parts: non · puh · REL.
Is nonpareil 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 /nɒnpəˈreɪl/ (non-puh-RAYL).