How to pronounce preposterous
Say it like prih-POS-tuh-rus. Preposterous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preposterous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- prih
- POS
- tuh
- rus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preposterous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- POSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of preposterous
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: prih-POS-tuh-rus.
What does preposterous mean?
- Absurd, or contrary to common sense.
Where does preposterous come from?
From Latin praeposterus (“with the hinder part before, reversed, inverted, perverted”), from prae (“before”) + posterus (“coming after”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying preposterous
How do you pronounce preposterous?
Say prih-POS-tuh-rus. The American pronunciation is /prɪˈpɑstərəs/. In British English it is /prɪˈpɒstərəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preposterous?
Preposterous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POS). Broken into parts: prih · POS · tuh · rus.
Is preposterous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /prɪˈpɒstərəs/ (prih-POS-tuh-rus).