How to pronounce promise
Say it like PROM-us. Promise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce promise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PROM
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Promise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PROMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of promise
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: PROM-is.
What does promise mean?
- make a promise or commitment
- promise to undertake or give“I promise you my best effort”
- make a prediction about; tell in advance“Call the outcome of an election”
- a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
- grounds for feeling hopeful about the future“there is little or no promise that he will recover”
Where does promise come from?
From Middle English promis, promisse, borrowed from Old French promesse, from Medieval Latin prōmissa, Latin prōmissum (“a promise”), feminine and neuter past participles of prōmittō (“to send forth, to say beforehand, to promise”), from pr
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying promise
How do you pronounce promise?
Say PROM-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑməs/. In British English it is /ˈprɒmɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in promise?
Promise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROM). Broken into parts: PROM · us.
Is promise 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 /ˈprɒmɪs/ (PROM-is).