How to pronounce oppress
Say it like uh-PRES. Oppress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oppress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- PRES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oppress 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.
- PRESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of oppress
American and British speakers say oppress in essentially the same way: /əˈprɛs/ in the US and /əˈprɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-PRES.
What does oppress mean?
- To keep down by unjust force.“The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.”
- To make sad or gloomy.“We were oppressed by the constant gray skies.”
Where does oppress come from?
From Middle English oppressen, from Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare (“to press against, oppress”), frequentative of Latin opprimere, past participle oppressus (“to press against, press together, oppress”), from ob (“aga
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with oppress
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oppress.
Questions about saying oppress
How do you pronounce oppress?
Say uh-PRES. The American pronunciation is /əˈprɛs/. In British English it is /əˈprɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oppress?
Oppress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRES). Broken into parts: uh · PRES.
Do Americans and Brits say oppress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈprɛs/ and the British form is /əˈprɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.