How to pronounce posthumous
Say it like POS-chuh-mus. Posthumous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce posthumous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POS
- chuh
- mus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Posthumous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- musKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of posthumous
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: POS-chuu-mus.
What does posthumous mean?
- After the death of someone.
- Taking place after one's own death.“Artists obscure during their life often receive posthumous recognition, too late for them to enjoy.”
- In reference to a work, published after the author's death.“His memoirs were his posthumous revenge on enemies he dared not take on alive.”
Where does posthumous come from?
From Latin posthumus, a variant spelling of postumus, superlative form of posterus (“coming after”), the ⟨h⟩ added by association with humus (“ground, earth”) referring to burial.
Questions about saying posthumous
How do you pronounce posthumous?
Say POS-chuh-mus. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑstʃəməs/. In British English it is /ˈpɒstʃʊməs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in posthumous?
Posthumous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POS). Broken into parts: POS · chuh · mus.
Is posthumous 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 /ˈpɒstʃʊməs/ (POS-chuu-mus).