How to pronounce picturesque
Say it like PIK-chuh-rusk. Picturesque has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce picturesque. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIK
- chuh
- rusk
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Picturesque pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ruskKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of picturesque
American and British speakers say picturesque in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/ in the US and /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIK-chuh-rusk.
What does picturesque mean?
- suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture“a picturesque village”
- strikingly expressive“a picturesque description of the rainforest”
Where does picturesque come from?
From picture + -esque, a calque of French pittoresque, from picture (“a picture, painting”).
Questions about saying picturesque
How do you pronounce picturesque?
Say PIK-chuh-rusk. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/. In British English it is /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in picturesque?
Picturesque has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIK). Broken into parts: PIK · chuh · rusk.
Do Americans and Brits say picturesque the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/ and the British form is /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.