How to pronounce persist
Say it like per-SIST. Persist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce persist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SIST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Persist 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.
- SISTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of persist
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SIST.
What does persist mean?
- continue to exist“These stories die hard”“The legend of Elvis endures”
- be persistent, refuse to stop“he persisted to call me every night”“The child persisted and kept asking questions”
- stay behind“The smell stayed in the room”“The hostility remained long after they made up”
Where does persist come from?
From Middle French persister (Modern French persister), from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere (“to stand”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with persist
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of persist.
Questions about saying persist
How do you pronounce persist?
Say per-SIST. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsɪst/. In British English it is /pəˈsɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in persist?
Persist has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIST). Broken into parts: per · SIST.
Is persist 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 /pəˈsɪst/ (puh-SIST).