How to pronounce performance
Say it like per-FOR-muns. Performance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce performance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- FOR
- muns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Performance 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.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- munsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of performance
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-FAW-muns.
What does performance mean?
- a dramatic or musical entertainment“they listened to ten different performances”“the play ran for 100 performances”
- the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment“we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal”“an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto”
- the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it“they criticised his performance as mayor”“experience generally improves performance”
Where does performance come from?
From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance.
Questions about saying performance
How do you pronounce performance?
Say per-FOR-muns. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈfɔrməns/. In British English it is /pəˈfɔːməns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in performance?
Performance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOR). Broken into parts: per · FOR · muns.
Is performance 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 /pəˈfɔːməns/ (puh-FAW-muns).