How to pronounce prelude
Say it like PRAY-lood. Prelude has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prelude. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRAY
- lood
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prelude pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- loodGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of prelude
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: PREL-yood.
What does prelude mean?
- An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
- A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece.
- A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.
- To introduce something, as a prelude.
- To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.
Where does prelude come from?
From Middle French prélude (“singing to test a musical instrument”), from Medieval Latin preludium, from Latin praelūdere.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying prelude
How do you pronounce prelude?
Say PRAY-lood. The American pronunciation is /ˈpreɪˌlud/. In British English it is /ˈprɛljuːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prelude?
Prelude has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAY). Broken into parts: PRAY · lood.
Is prelude pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune). The British form is /ˈprɛljuːd/ (PREL-yood).