How to pronounce pessimistic
Say it like pes-uh-MIS-tik. Pessimistic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pessimistic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pes
- uh
- MIS
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pessimistic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pesGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pessimistic
American and British speakers say pessimistic in essentially the same way: /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/ in the US and /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: pes-uh-MIS-tik.
What does pessimistic mean?
- Marked by pessimism and little hopefulness; expecting the worst.“a pessimistic view of the future”
- Pertaining to the worst-case scenario.“a pessimistic estimate”
- Taking out exclusive locks on data to prevent conflicts with other processes that might modify it.“pessimistic concurrency; pessimistic locking”
Where does pessimistic come from?
From pessimist + -ic.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with pessimistic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pessimistic.
Questions about saying pessimistic
How do you pronounce pessimistic?
Say pes-uh-MIS-tik. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/. In British English it is /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pessimistic?
Pessimistic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MIS). Broken into parts: pes · uh · MIS · tik.
Do Americans and Brits say pessimistic the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/ and the British form is /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.