How to pronounce per
Say it like PUR. Per is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce per. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Per pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of per
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PUR.
What does per mean?
- For each.“Admission is £10 per person.”
- To each, in each (used in expressing ratios of units).“12 inches per foot”
- By the, through the (with name of body part in Latin).“Introduce the endoscope per nasum.”
Where does per come from?
From Latin per (“through, during”), from Proto-Indo-European *per.
Words that rhyme with per
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of per.
Words that sound like per
Questions about saying per
How do you pronounce per?
Say PUR. The American pronunciation is /pɝ/. In British English it is /pɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in per?
Per is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PUR.
Is per 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 /pɜː/ (PUR).
What words sound the same as per?
Per sounds the same as purr in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.