How to pronounce perspire
Say it like per-SPIRE. Perspire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perspire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SPIRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perspire 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.
- SPIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of perspire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SPY.
What does perspire mean?
- To emit (sweat or perspiration) through the skin's pores.“I was perspiring freely after running the marathon.”
- To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin.“A fluid perspires.”
- To cause (someone) to sweat.
Where does perspire come from?
Borrowed from Middle French perspirer and its source Latin perspīrō (“to breathe everywhere, blow constantly”), from per (“through”) + spīrō (“to breathe”); see spirit.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with perspire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of perspire.
Questions about saying perspire
How do you pronounce perspire?
Say per-SPIRE. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈspaɪr/. In British English it is /pəˈspaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perspire?
Perspire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE). Broken into parts: per · SPIRE.
Is perspire 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 /pəˈspaɪ/ (puh-SPY).