How to pronounce surmise
Say it like ser-MYZE. Surmise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MYZE).
- ser
- MYZE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surmise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- serKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- MYZESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of surmise
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: sur-MYZE.
What does surmise mean?
- Thought, imagination, or conjecture, which may be based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess.“surmises of jealousy or of envy”
- Reflection; thought; posit.
- To imagine or suspect; to conjecture; to posit with contestable premises.“If, as I surmise, you see the ladies this evening, you might mention my intended visit.”
Where does surmise come from?
From Old French surmis, past participle of surmetre, surmettre (“to accuse”), from sur- (“upon”) + metre (“to put”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- assumption
- conjecture
- foreguess
- given
- arread
- assume
- fancy
- conject
Words that rhyme with surmise
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surmise.
Questions about saying surmise
How do you pronounce surmise?
Say ser-MYZE. The American pronunciation is /sɚˈmaɪz/. In British English it is /sɜːˈmaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surmise?
Surmise has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MYZE). Broken into parts: ser · MYZE.
Is surmise 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 /sɜːˈmaɪz/ (sur-MYZE).