How to pronounce progress
Say it like PROG-res. Progress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce progress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PROG
- res
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Progress pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PROGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- resGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of progress
American and British speakers say progress in essentially the same way: /ˈprɑˌɡrɛs/ in the US and /ˈprəʊˌɡrɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: PROH-gres.
Other ways to say progress
Progress also has these pronunciations, usually with a different meaning or use:
- pruh-GRES /prəˈɡrɛs/
- proh-GRES /proʊˈɡrɛs/
What does progress mean?
- gradual improvement or growth or development“advancement of knowledge”“great progress in the arts”
- the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)
- a movement forward“he listened for the progress of the troops”
- develop in a positive way“He progressed well in school”“My plants are coming along”
- move forward, also in the metaphorical sense“Time marches on”
- form or accumulate steadily“Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly”“Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border”
Where does progress come from?
From Middle English progresse, from Old French progres (“a going forward”), from Latin prōgressus (“an advance”), from the participle stem of prōgredī (“to go forward, advance, develop”), from pro- (“forth, before”) + gradi (“to walk, go”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying progress
How do you pronounce progress?
Say PROG-res. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑˌɡrɛs/. In British English it is /ˈprəʊˌɡrɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in progress?
Progress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROG). Broken into parts: PROG · res.
Do Americans and Brits say progress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈprɑˌɡrɛs/ and the British form is /ˈprəʊˌɡrɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.