How to pronounce pursuit
Say it like per-SOOT. Pursuit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pursuit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SOOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pursuit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SOOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of pursuit
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: puh-SYOOT.
What does pursuit mean?
- the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture“the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit”
- a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria“the pursuit of love”“life is more than the pursuance of fame”
- an auxiliary activity
Where does pursuit come from?
From Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, from the verb porsuir (“to pursue”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pursuit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pursuit.
Questions about saying pursuit
How do you pronounce pursuit?
Say per-SOOT. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsut/. In British English it is /pəˈsjuːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pursuit?
Pursuit has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOOT). Broken into parts: per · SOOT.
Is pursuit pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /pəˈsjuːt/ (puh-SYOOT).