How to pronounce perennial
Say it like puh-REN-ee-ul. Perennial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perennial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- REN
- ee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perennial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of perennial
American and British speakers say perennial in essentially the same way: /pəˈrɛniəl/ in the US and /pəˈrɛnɪəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-REN-ih-ul.
What does perennial mean?
- lasting three seasons or more“the common buttercup is a popular perennial plant”
- lasting an indefinitely long time; suggesting self-renewal“perennial happiness”
- recurring again and again“perennial efforts to stipulate the requirements”
- (botany) a plant lasting for three seasons or more
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with perennial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of perennial.
Questions about saying perennial
How do you pronounce perennial?
Say puh-REN-ee-ul. The American pronunciation is /pəˈrɛniəl/. In British English it is /pəˈrɛnɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perennial?
Perennial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN). Broken into parts: puh · REN · ee · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say perennial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈrɛniəl/ and the British form is /pəˈrɛnɪəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.