How to pronounce peppercorn
Say it like PEP-er-korn. Peppercorn has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce peppercorn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEP
- er
- korn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Peppercorn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- kornKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of peppercorn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PEP-uh-kawn.
What does peppercorn mean?
- The seeds of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, commonly used as a spice, usually ground or crushed.
- A small, insignificant quantity; a whit or jot.
- A nominal consideration used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract.“peppercorn rent”
Where does peppercorn come from?
Inherited from Middle English peper corn, peper-corn, pepercorn, from Old English piporcorn (“peppercorn”), corresponding to pepper + corn.
Questions about saying peppercorn
How do you pronounce peppercorn?
Say PEP-er-korn. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɛpɚkɔrn/. In British English it is /ˈpɛpəkɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in peppercorn?
Peppercorn has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEP). Broken into parts: PEP · er · korn.
Is peppercorn 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 /ˈpɛpəkɔːn/ (PEP-uh-kawn).