How to pronounce "pressure"

pressure

Noun
American
/ˈprɛʃər/

Syllable Breakdown

pres sure

How natives say pressure

British
/ˈpreʃə/

Syllable Breakdown

pres sure

How natives say pressure

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'pre' sound, pronounced as 'preh', with lips relaxed and the tongue low in the mouth.

  • Move to 'sh', pushing air through your barely open lips with teeth close together.

  • End with 'er', making sure the tongue curls slightly back for the 'r' sound.

Common Mistakes

  • pres-ure (missing the 'sh' sound)

  • presh-er (incorrect vowel in second syllable)

  • pruh-sure (wrong vowel in the first syllable)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'pre' sound as in 'preh', similar to American, keeping the tongue low.

  • Transition into 'sh', focusing air between your teeth.

  • Finish with 'uh', where the mouth is more relaxed compared to American 'er'.

common mistakes

  • pres-ure (missing the 'sh' sound)

  • presh-uh (wrong vowel sound in second syllable)

  • prech-ure (incorrect consonant sound)

FAQ

Why does 'pressure' have a 'sh' sound?

The combination of 'ss' and 'u' often results in a 'sh' sound in English.

How do I pronounce the 'ure' ending?

In American English, the 'ure' sounds like 'er', whereas in British it sounds more like 'uh'.

Which syllable is stressed?

The first syllable, 'pres', is stressed in both American and British pronunciations.

Definition

pressure

The feeling of stress or the force applied to a surface.

Word Family

press

/prɛs/

verb

To push against something.

Example: Press the button to start.

impression

/ɪmˈprɛʃən/

noun

A strong effect or feeling.

Example: He made a good impression.

depression

/dɪˈprɛʃən/

noun

A state of low mood.

Example: She struggled with depression.

Key Pronunciation Differences

'Pressure' has a 'sh' sound, unlike 'press'.

'Impression' has a similar 'sh' sound, but starts with a different vowel.

'Depression' shares the 'sh' sound, but is three syllables compared to two.

Pro Tips

Focus on the 'sh' Sound

Make sure your tongue and teeth form the 'sh' properly to avoid missing the sound.

Stress on First Syllable

Practice stressing 'pres' to maintain correct pronunciation.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Pressure

adjoin

/əˈdʒɔɪn/

apartment

/əˈpɑrt.mənt/

applicable

/ˈæplɪkəbl̩/

arise

/əˈraɪz/

avenue

/ˈæv.ə.nuː/

backstage

/bækˈsteɪdʒ/

bench

/bɛntʃ/

beside

/bɪˈsaɪd/