How to pronounce precarious
Say it like pree-KER-ee-us. Precarious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce precarious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- KER
- ee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Precarious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- KERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of precarious
American and British speakers say precarious in essentially the same way: /priˈkɛriəs/ in the US and /prɪˈkɛəriəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-KAIR-ree-us.
What does precarious mean?
- Dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous.
- Depending on the intention of another.
- Relating to incipient caries.
Where does precarious come from?
From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with precarious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of precarious.
Questions about saying precarious
How do you pronounce precarious?
Say pree-KER-ee-us. The American pronunciation is /priˈkɛriəs/. In British English it is /prɪˈkɛəriəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in precarious?
Precarious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KER). Broken into parts: pree · KER · ee · us.
Do Americans and Brits say precarious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈkɛriəs/ and the British form is /prɪˈkɛəriəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.