How to pronounce proletariat
Say it like proh-lih-TEH-er-ee-ut. Proletariat has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce proletariat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- proh
- lih
- TEH
- er
- ee
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Proletariat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- lihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TEHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of proletariat
- American English uses 6 syllables and British English 5.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: proh-lih-TAIR-rih-ut.
What does proletariat mean?
- Wage earners collectively; people who own no capital and depend on their labor for survival; the working class, especially when seen as engaged in a class struggle with the bourgeoisie (“the capital-owning class”).
Where does proletariat come from?
Borrowed from French prolétariat, from prolétaire + -at, from Latin proletārius, from prōlēt- (“offspring”) + -ārius, from stem of prōlēs, from pro- + *olēs (“growth”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“to grow, nourish”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying proletariat
How do you pronounce proletariat?
Say proh-lih-TEH-er-ee-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˌproʊlɪˈtɛɚiət/. In British English it is /ˌprəʊlɪˈtɛərɪət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in proletariat?
Proletariat has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEH). Broken into parts: proh · lih · TEH · er · ee · ut.
Is proletariat pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 6 syllables and British English 5. The British form is /ˌprəʊlɪˈtɛərɪət/ (proh-lih-TAIR-rih-ut).