How to pronounce persuade
Say it like per-SWAYD. Persuade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SWAYD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce persuade. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SWAYD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Persuade 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.
- SWAYDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of persuade
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SWAYD.
What does persuade mean?
- win approval or support for“Carry all before one”“His speech did not sway the voters”
- cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm“You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!”
Where does persuade come from?
From Latin persuādeō (“to persuade”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with persuade
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of persuade.
Questions about saying persuade
How do you pronounce persuade?
Say per-SWAYD. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsweɪd/. In British English it is /pəˈsweɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in persuade?
Persuade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SWAYD). Broken into parts: per · SWAYD.
Is persuade 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 /pəˈsweɪd/ (puh-SWAYD).