4 syllables: Chry, so, pras, us. Stress on Chry.
KRIS-uh-pras-uhs
/ˈkrɪsəpræsəs/
Chrysoprasus is pronounced KRIS-uh-pras-uhs (/ˈkrɪsəpræsəs/). It has four syllables (Chry-so-pras-us), with the stress on "Chry". Chrysoprasus is a rare noun referring to a greenish-yellow chrysoprase gemstone or a color/shade reminiscent of that stone. It denotes a specific mineral hue and, occasionally, an era- or collection-specific descriptor in gemology. The term combines classical roots with modern lithology usage, primarily found in specialized mineralogical or jewelry literature.
nounChrysoprasus is a rare noun referring to a greenish-yellow chrysoprase gemstone or a color/shade reminiscent of that stone. It denotes a specific mineral hue and, occasionally, an era- or collection-specific descriptor in gemology. The term combines classical roots with modern lithology usage, primarily found in specialized mineralogical or jewelry literature.
How to Pronounce Chrysoprasus
"The jeweler set the chrysoprasus cabochon into a pendant with subtle gold filigree."
"Her description mentioned a chrysoprasus shade that balanced emerald and citrine tones."
"Ancient manuscripts sometimes reference chrysoprasus as a prized greenish gemstone."
Pronounce it as krih-SO-pra-suhs, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌkrɪs.oʊˈpræs.əs/ (US) or /ˌkrɪsəʊˈprɑː.səs/ (UK). Start with a clear 'kri' sound, then a long 'o' in the second syllable, followed by 'pras' with short a as in 'pass', and end with a soft 'uhs'. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations for the segments kri- and -pras- to compare vowel quality.
Common errors: misplacing stress (often splitting as 'crys-O-pras-us' instead of 'kri-so-PRAS-us'); mispronouncing the middle vowel as a hard long 'a' or 'o' in 'pras'; and blending 'pras' and 'us' too tightly. Correction: place primary stress on the third syllable: kri-s o- PRAS-us; keep the 'o' in the second syllable as a rounded long vowel and clearly articulate the final 's' and 'ə s' ending.
US: rhotic; pronounce with r-colored vowels and a full /ˈpræs.əs/ ending. UK: non-rhotic; may reduce the middle syllable slightly and lengthen the final schwa. AU: similar to UK but with more clipped final syllable and a broader sure 'o' in the second syllable. Across all, the key differences are rhoticity and the exact vowel quality in 'o' and 'a' plus how strongly the final -sus is enunciated.
Because it combines a classical root with a less common suffix and multiple consonant clusters: the 'chr' onset, the fused 'sopra' sequence, and the final 'sus' can cause mis-placement of stress and mis-timing of syllables. The 'o' vowel in the second syllable and the mid 'a' in 'pras' can be mis-spoken as long vs short values. Practicing the stressed third syllable and isolating the 's' sequences helps solidify accurate speech.
There are no silent letters in Chrysoprasus, but the pronunciation hinges on maintaining a distinct three-syllable rhythm with stress on the third syllable: kri-so-PRAS-us. The 'o' in the second syllable should be pronounced as a rounded vowel, not reduced. Avoid swallowing the mid syllable; keep it voiced and clear to avoid a muddy ending.
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Chrysoprasus derives from Greek chrysos (gold, or more accurately a golden color in some contexts) and prasos (green gemstone, chrysoprase). The combination likely arose in 18th- to 19th-century mineralogical terminology when scholars attempted to render gemstone family names into compound descriptors. Chrysos means gold or yellow as a color reference; prasos stems from prason, meaning leek in some ancient roots, but in gemstone contexts it adapted to denote green chalcedony varieties in classical texts. The suffix -sus appears as a Latinate ending to form a substantive noun in English, aligning with other mineral names borrowed into English—sometimes via French or Latin scholarly compendia. Early appearances are found in fossilized catalogues and gem catalogs from the late 1700s onward, with later standardization in 19th-century mineral lexicons. The term situates within a broader taxonomy of color-specifying gemstone adjectives (e.g., chrysoprase, praserous forms), but chrysoprasus remains rare and arch slightly outside common modern usage, typically appearing in specialist gemological and antiquarian literature rather than everyday mineral descriptions.
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Words that rhyme with "Chrysoprasus"
-nus sounds
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