How to pronounce vespers
Say it like VES-purz. Vespers has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vespers. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VES
- purz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vespers pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- purzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of vespers
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: VES-purz.
What does vespers mean?
- The sixth of the seven canonical hours, an evening prayer service
- A massacre
- plural of vesper How to pronounce vesper
Where does vespers come from?
Euphemistic use first as Vèpres éphésiennes (“Ephesian Vespers”), coined in 1890 by historian Théodore Reinach by analogy with the Sicilian Vespers.
Questions about saying vespers
How do you pronounce vespers?
Say VES-purz. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɛspɝz/. In British English it is /ˈvɛspɜːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vespers?
Vespers has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VES). Broken into parts: VES · purz.
Is vespers 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 /ˈvɛspɜːz/ (VES-purz).