How to pronounce prosaic
Say it like proh-ZAY-ik. Prosaic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prosaic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- proh
- ZAY
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prosaic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- ZAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of prosaic
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: proh-ZAY-ik.
What does prosaic mean?
- Pertaining to or having the characteristics of prose.“The tenor of Eliot's prosaic work differs greatly from that of his poetry.”
- Straightforward; matter-of-fact; lacking the feeling or elegance of poetry.“I was simply making the prosaic point that we are running late.”
- Overly plain, simple or commonplace, to the point of being boring.“His account of the incident was so prosaic that I nodded off while reading it.”
Where does prosaic come from?
From Middle French prosaïque, from Medieval Latin prosaicus (“in prose”), from Latin prosa (“prose”), from prorsus (“straightforward, in prose”), from Old Latin provorsus (“straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), from v
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with prosaic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prosaic.
Questions about saying prosaic
How do you pronounce prosaic?
Say proh-ZAY-ik. The American pronunciation is /proʊˈzeɪɪk/. In British English it is /prəʊˈzeɪɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prosaic?
Prosaic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAY). Broken into parts: proh · ZAY · ik.
Is prosaic pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /prəʊˈzeɪɪk/ (proh-ZAY-ik).