How to pronounce prematurely
Say it like pree-muh-CHOOR-lee. Prematurely has four 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 prematurely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- muh
- CHOOR
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prematurely 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.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of prematurely
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pree-muh-CHOOR-lee.
What does prematurely mean?
- In a premature manner; too soon or too early.“publish an obituary prematurely”
Where does prematurely come from?
From premature + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with prematurely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prematurely.
Questions about saying prematurely
How do you pronounce prematurely?
Say pree-muh-CHOOR-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˌpriməˈtʃʊrli/. In British English it is /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prematurely?
Prematurely has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (CHOOR). Broken into parts: pree · muh · CHOOR · lee.
Is prematurely 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 /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊəli/ (pree-muh-CHOOR-lee).