How to pronounce premature
Say it like pree-muh-CHOOR. Premature has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (CHOOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce premature. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- muh
- CHOOR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Premature pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- CHOORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of premature
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pree-muh-CHOOR.
What does premature mean?
- born after a gestation period of less than the normal time“a premature infant”
- too soon or too hasty“our condemnation of him was a bit previous”“a premature judgment”
- uncommonly early or before the expected time“illness led to his premature death”“alcohol brought him to an untimely end”
Where does premature come from?
From Latin praemātūrus, equivalent to pre- + mature.
Words that rhyme with premature
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of premature.
Questions about saying premature
How do you pronounce premature?
Say pree-muh-CHOOR. The American pronunciation is /ˌpriməˈtʃʊr/. In British English it is /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in premature?
Premature has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (CHOOR). Broken into parts: pree · muh · CHOOR.
Is premature 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 /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊə/ (pree-muh-CHOOR).