3 syllables: im, per, fect. Stress on per.
im-PUR-fikt
/ˌɪˈmpɝfɪkt/
imperfect is pronounced im-PUR-fikt (/ˌɪˈmpɝfɪkt/). It has three syllables (im-per-fect), with the stress on "per". Imperfect is an adjective or noun describing something not perfect or lacking in some quality. In grammar, it often contrasts with perfect or completed aspects. The term implies deficiency or incompleteness rather than total failure, and it frequently appears in discussions of flaws, errors, or ongoing processes.
Imperfect is an adjective or noun describing something not perfect or lacking in some quality. In grammar, it often contrasts with perfect or completed aspects. The term implies deficiency or incompleteness rather than total failure, and it frequently appears in discussions of flaws, errors, or ongoing processes.
- You might misplace the main stress on the first syllable (im-PER-fect). Keep the stress on the second syllable: /ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/. - The vowel in the second syllable can be flattened to a simple /ɜ/ or /ɜː/ without the rhotic quality in US English. Aim for /ɜːr/ (US) or /ɜː/ (UK/AU) and ensure lip rounding is minimal but present. - Ending with a clipped /t/; either release too hard or drop it in casual speech. Practice with a light, crisp ending or an unreleased /t/ when linking to a following word.
"Her handwriting was imperfect, but legible enough to read."
"In the imperfect tense, the action was ongoing in the past, not completed."
"The painting looked imperfect up close, yet from a distance it seemed fine."
Pronounce as im-PER-fect. The primary stress is on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt. Start with the short /ɪ/ in ‘im-’, then a stressed, rhotacized /ɜːr/ vowel in the second syllable, followed by /f/ and a crisp /t/. Keep your tongue mid-high, lips relaxed, and end with a light stop. If you’re linking to a following word, the /t/ may be unreleased: im-PER-fect-ly.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (say im-PER-fect with the stress on the first syllable); using a flat /ɪ/ in the second syllable (e.g., im-PER-fect instead of /ˈɜː/); or slurring the final /t/ into the next word. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a clear vowel /ɜːr/ (US) or /ɜː/ (UK/AU) and articulate a crisp /t/ at the end, or an unreleased /t/ if followed by a consonant.
US English leans toward /ɜːr/ with a rhotic r, so /ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/. UK and Australian often use /ɜː/ without rhotic coloring in some speakers, yielding /ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt/. The final /t/ is released in careful speech but often unreleased in connected speech in all variants. Rhythm remains i-M-PER-fect with strong secondary stress on the root syllable in formal contexts.
Two challenges: the mid-central vowel in the stressed syllable /ɜːr/ (or /ɜː/) can feel unfamiliar, especially if your native language lacks rhotics or has a different vowel quality. The sequence im- + p- can also tempt you to over-articulate the /m/ or shorten the second syllable. Practice with minimal pairs emphasizing the /ɜːr/ and a crisp /f/ and /t/ finale.
A unique aspect is maintaining the strong secondary emphasis on the second syllable while keeping the first syllable unstressed. You’ll hear a clear separation between /m/ and /ˈpɜːr/ in careful speech. Focus on a smooth transition from the nasal /m/ to the rhotic vowel /ɜːr/ and then to the /f/ and final /t/, ensuring each segment remains distinct but fluid.
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- US: rhotic /ɜːr/ with slight rhotic coloring; keep the r-approximation gentle and avoid vowel reduction in /ɜːr/. IPA reference: ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic /ɜː/ in many speakers; produce /ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt/ with a longer, pure vowel and crisper /t/. - AU: typically rhotic; similar to US but with a flatter /ɜː/; maintain clear /t/ and avoid vowel diphthongization. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the vowel quality differences.
Imperfect comes from Middle English imperfecten, from Late Latin imperfectus, from Latin in- (not) + perfectus (completed, full, finished; perfect), from perfectus (completed). The root perfectus itself derives from the Latin verb perficere (to complete, accomplish), composed of per- (through, thoroughly) + facere (to make). The word entered English via Old French or directly from Latin in the medieval period, where it developed a sense of “not yet complete” or “not perfectly finished.” Over time, imperfect retained its sense of lacking completeness or flaw in various domains, including grammar, philosophy, and everyday description. In modern usage, it is most common as a descriptor of flaws, ongoing past actions (in tense discussions), or non-ideal conditions, while retaining its negative connotation of something not meeting a standard of perfection.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "imperfect" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "imperfect"
-ert sounds
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