How to pronounce plusquamperfect
Say it like pluhs-kwam-PUR-fikt. Plusquamperfect has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce plusquamperfect. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pluhs
- kwam
- PUR
- fikt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Plusquamperfect pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pluhsGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- kwamKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- fiktKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of plusquamperfect
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pluhs-kwam-PUR-fikt.
What does plusquamperfect mean?
- pluperfect
Where does plusquamperfect come from?
From Latin plusquamperfectum (“more than perfect”), from plus (“more”) + quam (“than”) + perfectum, neuter singular of perfectus (“achieved; finished; perfected”).
Words that rhyme with plusquamperfect
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of plusquamperfect.
Questions about saying plusquamperfect
How do you pronounce plusquamperfect?
Say pluhs-kwam-PUR-fikt. The American pronunciation is /ˌplʌskwæmˈpɝfɪkt/. In British English it is /ˌplʌskwæmˈpɜːfɪkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in plusquamperfect?
Plusquamperfect has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PUR). Broken into parts: pluhs · kwam · PUR · fikt.
Is plusquamperfect 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 /ˌplʌskwæmˈpɜːfɪkt/ (pluhs-kwam-PUR-fikt).