2 syllables: im, print. Stress on print.
im-PRINT
/ˌɪmˈpɹɪnt/
imprint is pronounced im-PRINT (/ˌɪmˈpɹɪnt/). It has two syllables (im-print), with the stress on "print". Imprint (noun or verb) refers to a mark or impression left on a surface, or the act of impressing or stamping something onto a material. It can also denote a lasting influence or memory. The term combines physical stamping with figurative meaning, often implying a durable, recognizable result that persists over time.
Imprint (noun or verb) refers to a mark or impression left on a surface, or the act of impressing or stamping something onto a material. It can also denote a lasting influence or memory. The term combines physical stamping with figurative meaning, often implying a durable, recognizable result that persists over time.
- Confusing the second syllable with a long vowel or diphthong: keep /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable instead of elongating it to /iː/. - Inserting an extra vowel between /m/ and /p/ (im-uh-print); practice with a tight, immediate transition /mˈpr/ to avoid an audible break. - Dropping or misplacing the final /t/ or turning it into a flap or glottal stop in fast speech; ensure a crisp alveolar /t/ closure. Tips: practice saying im + print as a single, rapid stem, with steady airflow and a precise velar-alveolar stop. You’ll hear a clean, compact ending.
"The scientist used a mold to imprint the logo onto the metal sheet."
"Her words left a lasting imprint on his memory."
"The historical imprint of the event can still be seen in the region’s architecture."
Pronounce as /ɪmˈprɪnt/ in US and UK accents, with the primary stress on the second syllable: im-PRINT. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a crisp /m/ cluster, followed by /ˈprɪnt/. The final consonant cluster is /nt/, produced with a light touch of the tongue to finish the stop without vowel intrusion. Listen for a clean, brief vowel before the /nt/.
Common errors include overpronouncing the second syllable as /ˈpraɪnt/ or inserting an extra vowel before /nt/ (as in im-prin-ght). Some speakers may reduce the /ɪ/ in the first syllable to a schwa; keep it as /ɪ/. Another mistake is turning /m/ into a nasal vowel before /prɪnt/; maintain the consonant cluster /mpr/ cleanly. Focus on a crisp /m/ followed quickly by /p/ and /r/ without vowel intrusion.
In US and UK, /ɪmˈprɪnt/ is consistent, with rhoticity not affecting this word. In Australian English, the vowel in the first syllable remains /ɪ/, but you may notice a slightly more open mouth for /ɪ/ and a marginally quicker transition from /m/ to /pr/ due to Australian connected speech. The /t/ tends to be a clearer stop in careful speech across all three accents. IPA remains /ɪmˈprɪnt/ for all.
The difficulty centers on the consonant cluster /mpr/ right after a short vowel and the final /nt/ cluster, which requires a precise, short closing stop. The transition from /m/ to /p/ to /r/ must be smooth without inserting a vowel. Also, the second syllable stress is crucial; misplacing the stress can produce im-PRINT versus im-print, affecting intelligibility in fast speech. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on the /mpr/ sequence and final /nt/.
Yes: the word’s second-syllable stress and the /mpr/ cluster are distinctive. Ensure you produce a sharp /m/ and then a clean /p/ before the /r/; any vowel epenthesis between /m/ and /pr/ dulls the word. The final /nt/ should be a light, clipped stop, not a nasal or lingered sound. In some rapid speech, you might hear /ɪmˈprɪnt/ reduced slightly, but maintain the /ɪ/ for clarity.
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- US: Clear /ɪ/ vowels, rhotic sounds won’t affect imprint. Keep the /ɪ/ in the first syllable short and crisp; stress on the second syllable. - UK: Similar to US; watch for a slightly rounded lip posture around /ɪ/ and a more clipped /t/ at the end in careful speech. - AU: Slightly broader vowel quality; ensure /ɪ/ remains lax and short; rate of speech can be faster with compressed vowels. In all, keep /mpr/ tightly connected and /t/ released crisply. IPA references: US/UK/AU share /ɪmˈprɪnt/ with subtle vowel timing differences.
Imprint comes from the combination of imprint and print, with the sense of making a mark or impression that remains. It derives from Middle English imprenten, from Old French imprenter, from imprent (a mark impressed on something). The French term itself comes from Latin imprimere, formed by in- (in, on) + premere (to press, push). The word entered English in the late medieval period, originally used in printing and stamp-making contexts. Over time, imprint broadened to include figurative senses such as imprint on memory or identity, as well as institutional references like a publisher’s imprint. The evolution reflects the shift from a physical act of pressing to a metaphorical mark left on people, objects, and cultures. First known uses appear in legal, religious, and craft contexts where a durable mark or stamp denoted authority, ownership or authenticity, and later extended to a broader cultural imprint in literature and psychology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "imprint" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "imprint" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "imprint"
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