3 syllables: per, an, num. Stress on an.
pur-AN-uhm
/pɚˈænəm/
Per Annum is pronounced pur-AN-uhm (/pɚˈænəm/). It has three syllables (per-an-num), with the stress on "an". Per Annum is a formal Latin phrase used in English to mean 'per year' or 'annually.' It is typically employed in financial, legal, or academic contexts, often in phrases like 'interest is 5% per annum.' The pronunciation should be deliberate and clear in formal speech, as it may appear in written-economics or policy discussions rather than casual conversation.
adverbPer Annum is a formal Latin phrase used in English to mean 'per year' or 'annually.' It is typically employed in financial, legal, or academic contexts, often in phrases like 'interest is 5% per annum.' The pronunciation should be deliberate and clear in formal speech, as it may appear in written-economics or policy discussions rather than casual conversation.
How to Pronounce Per Annum
"The contract specifies a payment of $1,000 per annum."
"Investors expect returns of 6% per annum over the decade."
"The grant supports approximately $50,000 per annum in research funding."
Say it as pɜr-AN-yəm (US) or pɜː-AN-yəm (British). Emphasize the second syllable of Annum: AN-num. The middle 'n' is aalveolar nasal, and the final 'm' is a bilabial nasal; keep lips closed at the end to finish with m. Audio references: you can compare to /pɜrˈæniːm/ in some variants, but standard is /pɜˈæ.nəm/ or /pəˈnæm/ depending on locale. Practice by saying ‘per’ quickly, then clearly land on ‘AN’ and taper to ‘num’ with a light final m sound.
Common errors: flattening the stress to ‘PER ann-um’ (losing the strong second syllable). Another is linking the two words too tightly, resulting in ‘perannum’ without a clean boundary; ensure a small pause or clear separation between per and annum. Correct by practicing the stress peak on AN-num, and make sure the final m is a full bilabial closure released softly. Pay attention to the American /ɜr/ vs. British /ɜː/ vowel distinctions as well.
US tends to rhoticate the /ɜr/ as /ɜr/ with a prominent r-color; the stress typically sits on AN. UK usually uses /pəˈnæm/ or /pɜːˈæ nəm/ with less rhoticity in some dialects, so you may hear a more clipped second syllable. Australian English often merges vowels toward /ə/ or /æ/ and keeps a non-rhotic variant in some contexts, so the second syllable can sound more like /æ.nəm/. Always aim for a clear second-syllable stress and final /m/ with a light, closed lips closure in all accents.
The challenge lies in maintaining the two-syllable cadence with a strong second syllable while keeping a precise, non-casual rhythm. The diphthong in the first word (though often realized as a mid-vowel) can vary with dialect, and the final /m/ requires a clean bilabial closure. Additionally, the spacing and cadence between Latin-derived phrases can feel awkward if you’re not used to formal prose; practice sustaining a measured tempo to convey formality without sounding stilted.
A unique aspect is the Latin-based stress pattern in English: a high-profile stress on AN-num contrasts with the lighter Per, creating a two-beat rhythm that signals formality. You’ll also notice that the vowels can vary between /ɜː/ (UK) and /ɜr/ (US), which affects how you shape the mouth around the R-controlled voweI. Mastery comes from crisp enunciation of each syllable and a controlled, slightly elevated pitch on the stressed syllable to convey authority.
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Per annum comes from Latin, where per means 'by' or 'through' and annus means 'year.' The phrase traveled into English through legal and scholarly writings, retaining its Latin syntax and formal cadence. In Latin, annus signified a calendar year, and per annuum appears in inscriptions and contracts to denote rate or occurrence within a year. The adoption into English dates from the medieval and early modern periods, when scholars and clerks borrowed Latin phrases to convey precision in legal and financial documents. Over time, per annum remained a fixed, formulaic expression in formal registers, often abbreviated as p.a. in financial contexts. While common in law, finance, and academia, its usage has declined in general conversation, though it still appears in annual reports, contracts, and policy documents to indicate yearly rates. Today, it signals a technical, non-colloquial tone, and is frequently found alongside terms like “interest,” “income,” and “growth” to specify annual measures. First known uses can be traced to medieval scholastic and legal texts where Latin was the lingua franca of educated classes; its endurance shows the lasting value of compact, precise nomenclature in professional discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Per Annum"
-ium sounds
-rum sounds
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