4 syllables: Bi, par, ti, san. Stress on par.
beye-PAHR-tiz-uhn
/baɪˈpɑɹtɪzən/
Bipartisan is pronounced beye-PAHR-tiz-uhn (/baɪˈpɑɹtɪzən/). It has four syllables (Bi-par-ti-san), with the stress on "par". Bipartisan is an adjective describing an approach or stance that involves or supported by members of two major political groups or parties. It implies cross-party cooperation and absence of partisan bias in policy discussion or decision-making. The term signals collaborative effort rather than partisan rivalry.
adjectiveBipartisan is an adjective describing an approach or stance that involves or supported by members of two major political groups or parties. It implies cross-party cooperation and absence of partisan bias in policy discussion or decision-making. The term signals collaborative effort rather than partisan rivalry.
- Common pronunciation error: rushing the middle syllables and not maintaining the PAR stress, resulting in bi-PAR-tisan; fix by isolating and practicing the PAR dip with a held vowel before moving to -ti- and -zan. - Another error: pronouncing the final -san as -san with a heavy, emphasized ending; correct by making final syllable lighter and shorter, like -zan with a reduced vowel. - A third mistake: softening the /r/ in US contexts or omitting the /z/ in the final cluster; practice by delivering bi-PAR-ti-zan with crisp /z/ or /zən/ depending on dialect. Whichever you choose, keep the second syllable prominent and the last syllable light.
How to Pronounce Bipartisan
"The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate."
"The governor urged a bipartisan approach to reform."
"Bipartisan talks helped avert a government shutdown."
Pronounce as /ˌbaɪˈpɑːr.tɪ.zæn/ (US) or /ˌbaɪˈpɑː.tɪ.zən/ (UK/AU). Primary stress falls on the second syllable, PAR, with a lighter second-stress on -ti-, and a final unstressed -san/-zen. Start with a ‘bye’ sound, then a sharp open-o and an 'r' in the second syllable, followed by a light ‘zan’ or ‘zen’. Visualize: bye-PAR-ti-zan. IPA helps: US: /ˌbaɪˈpɑːr.tɪ.zæn/; UK/AU: /ˌbaɪˈpɑː.tɪ.zən/.
Two frequent errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable stress and saying bi-PAR-tisan quickly, which sounds flat. 2) In US you might blend the r and t: bi-PAR- t zən. Correct by clearly separating the syllables: bye-PAR-ti-zan, keeping the long 'a' in PAR and a light, unstressed final -zan. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the PAR stress.
US tends to maintain a clearer rhotacized /r/ in the second syllable with a slightly longer vowel in PAR (/ˈpɑːr/). UK often reduces the final vowel, producing /ˈpɑː.tɪ.zən/ with a non-rhotic r in many dialects and shorter vowels. Australian speech resembles UK patterns but may have more clipped vowels and a less pronounced final -zan. Overall, the primary stress remains on PAR; rhoticity and vowel quality shift subtly across regions.
It blends a multi-syllabic rhythm with a stressed second syllable and a final unstressed syllable that can reduce in rapid speech. The sequence -par-ti- can cause a quick transition between a tense vowel in PAR and a lax vowel in ti, while the final -san/-zen demands a light, quick ending. Learners often misplace stress or mumble the final syllable; slow, deliberate enunciation helps fix this.
The second syllable carries primary stress: /ˈpɑːr/ in US contexts; you should sustain a clear, open back vowel before the /r/. Keep the /t/ crisp but not explosive, as it leads into the weakly pronounced /z/ or /s/ depending on dialect; the final /ən/ or /ən/ should be very light. In some fast speech, the -ti- can blend into -zan/-zen, but aim to retain the boundary for clarity.
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- US: Maintain rhotic /r/ in PAR; ensure a clear, long vowel before /r/. The -ti- should be quickly articulated, not a full vowel; the final -zan is light and quick. - UK: Non-rhotic typically; avoid creating an/ r- coloring; keep PAR with a long vowel but shorter than US; final -zən is often more centralized. - AU: Similar to UK but with slightly broader vowels; ensure the final -zan is soft and quick, with less amplitude than the middle syllable. Practice with IPA: US /ˌbaɪˈpɑːr.tɪ.zæn/, UK /ˌbaɪˈpɑː.tɪ.zən/, AU /ˌbaɪˈpɑː.tɪ.zən/.
Bipartisan derives from the prefix bi- meaning 'two' or 'both', and bipartisan, combining party with the -arian suffix. The term entered English political vocabulary in the mid-20th century as democrats and republicans or other political factions sought cooperative, nonpartisan governance. The oldest elements trace to Latin roots: bi- from Latin bi- 'two', and partisans from Old French partisan meaning 'a supporter', ultimately from Latin partem 'part'. The modern sense—supporting two or more political parties or factions—emerged in constitutional and legislative discourse to describe compromises that straddle party lines. First known uses appear in political journalism and academic writings around the 1950s–1960s, gaining prominence during periods of coalition-building in multi-party or polarized environments. Its usage reflects a shift toward process-based moderation and governance through collaboration, even when substantive disagreements remain. Phonologically, it bears the stress pattern di- of the second syllable, with the primary stress on the second syllable: bi-PAR-ti-san. The word’s evolution tracks broader democratization of legislative negotiation, where public rhetoric underscored the value of cross-party alliances for legislative viability and compromise.
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Words that rhyme with "Bipartisan"
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