How to pronounce surprised
Say it like ser-PRYZD. Surprised has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRYZD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surprised. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ser
- PRYZD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surprised 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.
- PRYZDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of surprised
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: suh-PRYZD.
What does surprised mean?
- taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment“surprised by her student's ingenuity”“surprised that he remembered my name”
Words that rhyme with surprised
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surprised.
Questions about saying surprised
How do you pronounce surprised?
Say ser-PRYZD. The American pronunciation is /sɚˈpraɪzd/. In British English it is /səˈpraɪzd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surprised?
Surprised has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRYZD). Broken into parts: ser · PRYZD.
Is surprised 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 /səˈpraɪzd/ (suh-PRYZD).