How to pronounce perform
Say it like per-FORM. Perform has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FORM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perform. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- FORM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perform pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- FORMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of perform
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-FAWM.
What does perform mean?
- carry out or perform an action“John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters”“the skater executed a triple pirouette”
- perform a function“Who will perform the wedding?”
- give a performance (of something)“Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight”“We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera”
Where does perform come from?
From Middle English parformen, performen (“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish”), fro
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with perform
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of perform.
Questions about saying perform
How do you pronounce perform?
Say per-FORM. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈfɔrm/. In British English it is /pəˈfɔːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perform?
Perform has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FORM). Broken into parts: per · FORM.
Is perform 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 /pəˈfɔːm/ (puh-FAWM).