How to pronounce preeminent
Say it like pree-EM-uh-nunt. Preeminent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preeminent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- EM
- uh
- nunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preeminent 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.
- EMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of preeminent
American and British speakers say preeminent in essentially the same way: /priˈɛmənənt/ in the US and /priːˈɛmɪnənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: pree-EM-ih-nunt.
What does preeminent mean?
- Exceeding others in quality or rank; of outstanding excellence, extremely notable or important.
Where does preeminent come from?
Borrowed from Middle French preeminent and its source, Latin praeēminēns, present participle of praeēmineō (“to stand out, excel”), from prae- (“pre-”) + ēmineō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying preeminent
How do you pronounce preeminent?
Say pree-EM-uh-nunt. The American pronunciation is /priˈɛmənənt/. In British English it is /priːˈɛmɪnənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preeminent?
Preeminent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EM). Broken into parts: pree · EM · uh · nunt.
Do Americans and Brits say preeminent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈɛmənənt/ and the British form is /priːˈɛmɪnənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.