How to pronounce personnel
Say it like pur-suh-NEL. Personnel has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce personnel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pur
- suh
- NEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Personnel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- purGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of personnel
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pur-suh-NEL.
What does personnel mean?
- group of people willing to obey orders“a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens”
- the department responsible for hiring and training and placing employees and for setting policies for personnel management
Where does personnel come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French personnel.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with personnel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of personnel.
Questions about saying personnel
How do you pronounce personnel?
Say pur-suh-NEL. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɝsəˈnɛl/. In British English it is /ˌpɜːsəˈnɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in personnel?
Personnel has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL). Broken into parts: pur · suh · NEL.
Is personnel 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 /ˌpɜːsəˈnɛl/ (pur-suh-NEL).