How to pronounce participle
Say it like PAR-tih-sip-ul. Participle has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce participle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAR
- tih
- sip
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Participle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- sipGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of participle
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pah-TIS-ih-pul.
What does participle mean?
- A form of a verb that may function as an adjective, noun or adverb. English has two types of participles: the present participle and the past participle. In other languages, there are others, such as future, perfect, and future perfect participles.
Where does participle come from?
From Middle English participle, from Old French participle (1388), variant of participe, from Latin participium.
Questions about saying participle
How do you pronounce participle?
Say PAR-tih-sip-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑrtɪˌsɪpəl/. In British English it is /pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in participle?
Participle has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR). Broken into parts: PAR · tih · sip · ul.
Is participle pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/ (pah-TIS-ih-pul).