2 syllables: Com, prise. Stress on prise.
kuhm-PREYEZ
/kəmˈpɹaɪz/
Comprise is pronounced kuhm-PREYEZ (/kəmˈpɹaɪz/). It has two syllables (Com-prise), with the stress on "prise". Comprise is a transitive verb meaning to include or contain something as part of a whole, often with the sense of made up of. It is used to describe the parts that constitute a group, collection, or set. In practice, you’ll often see phrases like “comprises of” (informal or mistaken) but the correct form is simply “comprises.”.
verbComprise is a transitive verb meaning to include or contain something as part of a whole, often with the sense of made up of. It is used to describe the parts that constitute a group, collection, or set. In practice, you’ll often see phrases like “comprises of” (informal or mistaken) but the correct form is simply “comprises.”
How to Pronounce Comprise
"The committee comprises ten members and two advisors."
"The anthology comprises works by poets from around the world."
"The orchestra comprises strings, woodwinds, and brass."
Pronounce as /kəmˈpraɪz/. The stress is on the second syllable: com-PRISE. Begin with a light, unstressed /kə/ then a strong /ˈpraɪz/ onset that rhymes with 'rise'. The final /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative; keep it clear but not buzzy. You can listen to audio examples on pronunciation dictionaries or the Pronounce resource linked in Tools. Practice chunking: /kə-mˈpraɪz/ before integrating into full sentences.
Two common errors: (1) misplacing the stress and saying com-PRISE correctly, but many learners overemphasize the first syllable or misplace the stress, saying /ˈkɒmˌpraɪz/. (2) Slurring the /praɪz/ cluster into /præz/ or /praɪz/ with a very voiced or devoiced /z/. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable /kəmˈpraɪz/, ensure the /ɪ/ in /praɪ/ is a clear diphthong, and end with a precise /z/. Practice minimal pairs with ‘prize’ to keep the /aɪ/ sound distinct.
In US: /kəmˈpraɪz/, with a rhotic /r/ sound preceding the vowel and a clear /aɪ/ diphthong. In UK: /kɒmˈpraɪz/ or /kəˈpraɪz/ depending on rhoticity and vowel quality; the /ɒ/ in the first syllable may be more open. In Australian: /kəˈpraɪz/, with non-rhotic tendency and a slightly more centralized first syllable; the /ɪ/ of the /praɪ/ sequence remains a tight /aɪ/ diphthong. Key differences center on vowel quality in the first syllable and rhoticity; keep the /praɪz/ nucleus stable across accents.
The difficulty comes from the /praɪz/ cluster where the /aɪ/ diphthong is prominent and the consonant /z/ at the end—many learners merge it with /prajz/ or slip into /pɹaɪz/ with an American r-coloring. Also, the initial unstressed /kə/ or /kəm/ can be reduced in fast speech, masking the stress on the second syllable. Focus on the clear, strong /ˈpraɪz/ and practice slow repetition to stabilize the final /z/.
The unique aspect is the precise vowel quality of /aɪ/ within /praɪz/, and ensuring the final /z/ is fully voiced and not devoiced or lisped. Additionally, the word maintains a consistent secondary syllable stress pattern in many formal contexts, with primary emphasis on the second syllable. Understanding its etymology can help you anchor pronunciation in rhythm: co- + prise, with the root hearing as a single strong syllable /praɪz/.
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US: /kəˈpraɪz/ with rhotic linking; the /r/ is pronounced, and the /ə/ in the first syllable may be reduced. UK: /kɒmˈpraɪz/ or /kəˈpraɪz/, rhoticity varies; ensure first vowel quality leans toward /ɒ/ or schwa, and keep /praɪz/ tight. AU: /kəˈpraɪz/ with non-rhotic tendencies; first syllable often reduced, final /z/ clearly voiced. Vowel detail: /aɪ/ diphthong remains central to meaning; avoid conflating with /eɪ/ as in ‘raise’. IPA anchors: US /kəmˈpraɪz/; UK /kɒmˈpraɪz/; AU /kəˈpraɪz/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘crime/rise’ to keep /aɪ/ constant while adjusting onset and pre-stress vowels.
Comprise comes from the Middle French comprendre, which meant to enclose or contain. The English verb emerged in the 16th century, initially carrying the sense of enclosing or comprehending. It later shifted to the modern meaning of consisting of or making up a whole. The form comprises (with -es) attested in older legal and formal texts as the third-person singular present, aligning with the verb’s subject. The root French comprendre itself derives from Latin comprehendere (com- ‘together’ + prendere ‘to seize, grasp’). The semantic evolution reflects a move from “to seize together” to “to include as parts of a whole.” First known use in English appears in the 1500s in legal and scholarly discourse, where it described a collection or set made up of constituent parts. Over time, “comprise” has remained formal; in colloquial usage, people sometimes mistakenly say “composed of,” though “composed of” is grammatical in certain contexts, it is commonly advised to use “comprises” or “is comprised of” with consideration for style guides. The word retains a strong sense of total inclusion, contrasting with “composed of” which emphasizes construction from parts. Contemporary usage often features “comprises” followed by the list of parts, as in “The group comprises three researchers and two technicians.”
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Comprise" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Comprise" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Comprise"
-ise sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
