How to pronounce pessoptimist
Say it like peh-SOP-tih-mist. Pessoptimist has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pessoptimist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- peh
- SOP
- tih
- mist
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pessoptimist pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- SOPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- mistKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pessoptimist
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: peh-SOP-tih-mist.
What does pessoptimist mean?
- A person who possesses elements of both pessimism and optimism.
Where does pessoptimist come from?
Blend of pessimist + optimist, coined by British translator Trevor LeGassick in his 1985 translation of Emile Habibi's 1974 Arabic-language novel The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist.
Questions about saying pessoptimist
How do you pronounce pessoptimist?
Say peh-SOP-tih-mist. The American pronunciation is /pɛˈsɑptɪmɪst/. In British English it is /pɛˈsɒptɪmɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pessoptimist?
Pessoptimist has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOP). Broken into parts: peh · SOP · tih · mist.
Is pessoptimist pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /pɛˈsɒptɪmɪst/ (peh-SOP-tih-mist).