How to pronounce personify
Say it like per-SON-uh-fy. Personify has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce personify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SON
- uh
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Personify 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.
- SONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of personify
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: puh-SON-uh-fy.
What does personify mean?
- To be an example of; to have all the attributes of.“Mozart could be said to personify musical genius.”
- To create a representation of (an abstract quality) in the form of a character or persona.“The writer personified death in the form of the Grim Reaper.”
Where does personify come from?
From person + -ify, after French personnifier.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying personify
How do you pronounce personify?
Say per-SON-uh-fy. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsɑnəˌfaɪ/. In British English it is /pəˈsɒnəˌfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in personify?
Personify has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SON). Broken into parts: per · SON · uh · fy.
Is personify 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 /pəˈsɒnəˌfaɪ/ (puh-SON-uh-fy).