3 syllables: Com, pro, mise. Stress on Com.
KAHM-pruh-meyez
/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/
Compromise is pronounced KAHM-pruh-meyez (/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/). It has three syllables (Com-pro-mise), with the stress on "Com". Compromise (noun) refers to a settlement reached when each party concedes some demands. It can also mean the act of risking reputation or safety by giving up certain principles. In context, it denotes a mutual agreement achieved through concessions, often balancing competing interests rather than perfect alignment.
nounCompromise (noun) refers to a settlement reached when each party concedes some demands. It can also mean the act of risking reputation or safety by giving up certain principles. In context, it denotes a mutual agreement achieved through concessions, often balancing competing interests rather than perfect alignment.
- You often misplace stress by saying com-PRO-mise instead of COM-pro-mise. Fix: keep primary stress on the first syllable. - The middle /ə/ tends to become an opaque /ɪ/ or /ə/, blur the syllable boundary. Fix: exaggerate the SCHWA mildly in practice, then fade to natural speed. - Final /aɪz/ can become /ɪz/ in rapid speech. Fix: end with a distinct /aɪ/ glide then voice the /z/ clearly. - Over-articulation of the initial cluster /kɒm/ or /kɑːm/ can sound forced. Fix: drop extra tension, keep the back of the tongue steady for clean onset.
How to Pronounce Compromise
"The board reached a compromise after hours of negotiation."
"She refused to accept a compromise that would lower standards."
"A compromise between safety and speed is sometimes necessary in racing."
Pronounce it as /ˈkɒm.prə.maɪz/ in UK and AU accents, and /ˈkɑːm.prə.maɪz/ in US English. The stress is on the first syllable: COM-pro-mize. The middle schwa is quick and soft, and the final -maze sounds like 'mize' with z. Mouth positions: start with a rounded or open back vowel for /kɒ/ or /kɑː/, then a relaxed /prə/ cluster, and end with /maɪz/ with the long /aɪ/ diphthong. For clarity, listen to a native speaker and imitate the rhythm: strong first beat, lighter second and third syllables.
Common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., com-PRO-mise) or (2) delaying the middle /ə/ so it sounds like /ʌ/ instead of a quick schwa. (3) Slurring the final /aɪz/ into /ɪz/ or /əz/ in rapid speech. Corrections: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a relaxed schwa in the middle, and ensure the final /aɪz/ has a clear /aɪ/ glide followed by a crisp /z/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps: COM-pro-mize vs com-PRO-mize cannot be used interchangeably.
US: /ˈkɑːm.prə.maɪz/ (long /ɑː/, rhotic /r/ in the middle). UK/AU: /ˈkɒm.prə.maɪz/ or /ˈkɒm.prə.zaɪz/ in some regional speech; non-rhotic tendency makes the /r/ invisible in positions not followed by a vowel. The first vowel is shorter and more back /ɒ/ or /ɔː/, and the /maɪz/ ending remains the same. In fast speech, some speakers reduce the middle syllable slightly, but the primary stress on the first syllable remains constant.
Three challenges: the two consonant clusters k- and pr- at the start can tempt you to misplace the tongue, and the quick schwa in the middle /ə/ can blur if you’re not separating syllables. The final diphthong /aɪ/ requires a smooth, rising glide into a voiced /z/; rushing can blur it to /ɪz/. Training helps: lock the /ˈkɒm/ or /ˈkɑːm/ before the /prə/ portion, practice the middle schwa in isolation, and drill the /aɪz/ ending with a clear lip-glide.
The word uniquely blends a heavy first syllable with a light middle and a defined final /aɪz/. The presence of both /m/ and /pr/ clusters in close succession can trap the tongue if you hurry. It also carries a poise of contrastive stress that is maintained when used as a noun, with slight variation when used as a verb (to com-PROmise). Emphasizing the first syllable and keeping the final /aɪz/ crisp distinguishes it in fluent speech.
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- US: rhotic /r/, more pronounced /ɑː/ or /ɔː/ depending on region; keep /ˈkɑːm.prə.maɪz/ with light lip rounding for /ɔː/ in some speakers. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; first vowel closer to /ɒ/; maintain crisp /pr/ onset though speed can reduce it. - AU: tends toward /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ in first syllable; often more relaxed /r/ and a slightly broader /aɪ/ diphthong. - IPA references help you monitor vowel lengths and rhoticity; practice with a mirror to ensure lip rounding and jaw openness align with the intended accent.
Compromise comes from the Old French compromis, which itself derives from Late Latin compromisum, from the Latin com- (together) + proponere (to put forward). The original sense in medieval Europe was a mutual proposal submitted by parties seeking a middle ground, blending portions from competing positions. Through centuries, compromise retained the core idea of balancing conflicting interests, but its usage broadened to describe not only political or legal settlements, but everyday negotiations, moral concessions, and even reputational risks. In English, the word narrowed toward a formal noun meaning a settlement where concessions are made, and later also appeared as a verb (to compromise) with senses of exposing to risk or making vulnerable. The first known written uses appear in late medieval texts, with stable forms in early modern English literature. Over time, “compromise” also picked up figurative senses such as compromising one’s principles or safety, highlighting the ethical dimension of negotiations and the weighing of costs and benefits across domains.
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Words that rhyme with "Compromise"
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