How to pronounce perpetual
Say it like per-PECH-oo-ul. Perpetual has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PECH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perpetual. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- PECH
- oo
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perpetual 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.
- PECHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of perpetual
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-PECH-oo-ul.
What does perpetual mean?
- continuing forever or indefinitely“the ageless themes of love and revenge”“eternal truths”
- uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing“the ceaseless thunder of surf”“in constant pain”
Where does perpetual come from?
From Middle English perpetuel, from Old French perpetuel, from Latin perpetuālis (“universal”), from perpetuus, from petō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying perpetual
How do you pronounce perpetual?
Say per-PECH-oo-ul. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈpɛtʃuəl/. In British English it is /pəˈpɛtʃuəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perpetual?
Perpetual has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PECH). Broken into parts: per · PECH · oo · ul.
Is perpetual 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 /pəˈpɛtʃuəl/ (puh-PECH-oo-ul).