How To Pronounce Compare

compare

Phonemic

/kəmˈpeə/

Phonetic

[kə̃mˈpʰeəʴ]

Phonemic

/kəmˈper/

In British English, compare is pronounced /kəmˈpeə/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [kə̃mˈpʰeəʴ]. In American English, it is pronounced /kəmˈper/.

Compare has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

kəmpeə

Compare has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the second syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is oO, where O is the stressed syllable.

compare + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/kəmˈpeəz/

/kəmˈperz/

compare + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /d/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/kəmˈpeəd/

/kəmˈperd/

compare + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/. In UK English a linking /r/ is added because the spelling ends in -r.

/kəmˈpeə.rɪŋ/

/kəmˈper.ɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Compare

Questions About Compare

How do you pronounce compare in British English?

In British English, compare is pronounced /kəmˈpeə/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [kə̃mˈpʰeəʴ].

How do you pronounce compare in American English?

In American English, compare is pronounced /kəmˈper/.

How many syllables are in compare?

Compare has two syllables, /kəm/ + /peə/.

Where is the stress in compare?

The main stress is on the second syllable, /peə/.

Do British and American English pronounce compare the same way?

No. British English has /kəmˈpeə/ and American English has /kəmˈper/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern oO

Nearby Words

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