How to pronounce previous
Say it like PREE-vee-us. Previous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PREE).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈpriviəs/PREE-vee-us
UK British/ˈpriːvɪəs/PREE-veers
- PREE
- vee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Previous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PREESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of previous
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
British respelling: PREE-veers.
What does previous mean?
adjective
- Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.“He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.”
- Premature; acting or occurring too soon.
- An existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions")“It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous.”
- A track record of similar behaviour, especially bad behaviour.
- A record of previous hostility or conflict (between people).“The two players refused to shake hands, there's a bit of previous there.”
Where does previous come from?
From Latin praevius.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with previous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of previous.
Questions about saying previous
How do you pronounce previous?
Say PREE-vee-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈpriviəs/. In British English it is /ˈpriːvɪəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in previous?
Previous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PREE). Broken into parts: PREE · vee · us.
Is previous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈpriːvɪəs/ (PREE-veers).