3 syllables: Chrys, o, prase. Stress on Chrys.
KRIS-uh-prayz
/ˈkɹɪsəˌpɹeɪz/
Chrysoprase is pronounced KRIS-uh-prayz (/ˈkɹɪsəˌpɹeɪz/). It has three syllables (Chrys-o-prase), with the stress on "Chrys". Chrysoprase is a chalcedony gemstone with a green to apple-green hue, traditionally valued for its color and translucence. In geology and gemology, it denotes a chrysoprase variety of silica with nickel-bearing traces that give its distinctive green tint. The term blends Greek roots for gold and leek, reflecting historical mineral naming; used primarily in gem trade and mineralogy discussions.
nounChrysoprase is a chalcedony gemstone with a green to apple-green hue, traditionally valued for its color and translucence. In geology and gemology, it denotes a chrysoprase variety of silica with nickel-bearing traces that give its distinctive green tint. The term blends Greek roots for gold and leek, reflecting historical mineral naming; used primarily in gem trade and mineralogy discussions.
- You often misplace the primary stress; ensure it is on the first syllable: CHRYS-o-prase. If you say chri-SOP-rayz, you’ve shifted stress and altered rhythm. - The /kr/ onset can become soft or disappear when you’re not careful with the mouth closure; keep a crisp /k/ and /r/ immediately together. - The ending /eɪs/ can turn into a short /e/ or /ɪ/; practice the long diphthong /eɪ/ in preɪs and finish with clear /s/.
How to Pronounce Chrysoprase
"The jeweler set a chrysoprase cabochon into a pendant."
"Ancient silversmiths prized chrysoprase for its verdant glow."
"The specimen on display is a fine chrysoprase with even color."
Pronounce as /ˈkrɪsəˌpreɪs/. Start with the CHR blend: a crisp /kr/ followed by /ɪ/ as in kit. Then /sə/ with a schwa, and end with /preɪs/ where /preɪ/ rhymes with ‘prey’ and final /s/ is gentle. Stress pattern: primary on CHRYS- and secondary on -prase, i.e., CHRYS-OPRASE. In IPA: /ˈkrɪsəˌpreɪs/. Audio resources: you can hear it on Pronounce or YouGlish to hear native usage.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress by saying chry-SO-prase or chor- instead of CHRYS-. Keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈkrɪsə/. (2) Slurring the /kr/ cluster or the /preɪ/ ending, producing /krɪsəˈprez/ or /krɪsəˈpris/. Correction: clearly pronounce /kr/ at the start, insert a light /ə/ after the /s/, and finish with /preɪs/—emphasize the /eɪ/ vowel but not the final /s/ too strongly.
US: /ˈkrɪsəˌpreɪs/ with strong rhoticity; UK: /ˈkrɪsəˌpreɪs/ non-rhotic but same syllables; AU: similar to US, but vowel quality on /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ can be flatter and faster; overall the word remains three syllables with primary stress on the first."
Because of the initial consonant cluster 'Chrys-' with /kr/ followed by a schwa, plus the diphthong /eɪ/ in the final syllable. Many speakers misplace stress or substitute /eɪ/ with /iː/ or mispronounce /prase/ as /prez/. Focus on crisp /kr/ onset, a weakly stressed schwa in the middle, and a precise /preɪs/ with a clear /eɪ/ before the final /s/.
Chrysoprase requires accurate handling of the /kr/ onset followed by a schwa (ə). The challenge is maintaining the three-syllable rhythm with a strong first-stress while keeping the /eɪ/ as a clear long vowel before the final /s/. Practice by isolating /kr/ and then concatenating /ɪ/-/sə/-/preɪs/ with even tempo.
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- US: pronounce /ˈkrɪsəˌpreɪs/ with a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a strong /eɪ/ in the last; vowel quality is slightly flatter in some regions. - UK: maintain precise non-rhoticity while preserving the /kr/ cluster; /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ remain distinct; watch for a lighter, shorter /ə/ if enunciating quickly. - AU: similar to US, but vowel shifts may soften /ɪ/ toward a near-high /ɪə/; maintain the diphthong /eɪ/ and a crisp final /s/ for clarity.
Chrysoprase derives from Greek chrys- 'gold' and prason 'leek' (or "prason"), a reference to the stone’s yellow-green to green color reminiscent of a leek. The earliest uses appear in ancient Greek and Latin writings describing types of chalcedony used in jewelry. The color descriptor chrys- linked to gold reflects an ancient tendency to categorize stones by color quality rather than precise chemical composition. Over time, chrysoprase became a recognized mineral variety within chalcedony, distinguished by nickel impurities that impart the apple-green to emerald hues. In medieval and Renaissance gem catalogs, chrysoprase appeared among expensive carvings and intaglios, with its value historically tied to color vividness and translucence. Modern mineralogy confirms chrysoprase as a nickel-bearing variety of cryptocrystalline silica (chalcedony) within the broader quartz family, with its first formal classification by mineralogists in the 18th–19th centuries as microscopy and geochemical techniques advanced. Today, chrysoprase is commonly referenced in gem trade, museum labels, and lapidary contexts, maintaining a niche but enduring status due to its distinctive green color and relatively common availability compared to finer emeralds or jade. The term has remained stable in English, with closely related terms like prase (green stone) appearing in historical texts, though chrysoprase itself is the modern, standard descriptor for this gemstone variety.
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Words that rhyme with "Chrysoprase"
-ase sounds
-ace sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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