2 syllables: Per, fume. Stress on fume.
pur-FYOOM
/pɚˈfjum/
Perfume is pronounced pur-FYOOM (/pɚˈfjum/). It has two syllables (Per-fume), with the stress on "fume". Perfume is a fragrant liquid product worn on the body to emit a pleasant scent. As a noun, it refers to the scented liquid itself or a bottle/container, and, less commonly, to a distinctive aroma in a broader sense. The word is often used in fashion and cosmetics contexts and emphasizes high-quality, lasting fragrance. Pronunciation emphasizes the second syllable and ends with a soft 'm'.
nounPerfume is a fragrant liquid product worn on the body to emit a pleasant scent. As a noun, it refers to the scented liquid itself or a bottle/container, and, less commonly, to a distinctive aroma in a broader sense. The word is often used in fashion and cosmetics contexts and emphasizes high-quality, lasting fragrance. Pronunciation emphasizes the second syllable and ends with a soft 'm'.
How to Pronounce Perfume
"She dabbed a little perfume on her wrists before the party."
"The perfume industry releases seasonal scents in limited editions."
"He asked for a bottle of perfume as a birthday gift."
Pronounce as PER-fyoom or PER-fyoom depending on region, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: /ˈpɜːr.fjuːm/; UK: /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/; AU: /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/. The second syllable begins with a /f/ sound followed by a yooded /juː/ glide, then /m/. Face the /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable as a mid-central open vowel, then transition smoothly to the /fjuː/ cluster and finish with /m/.
Common errors include treating the second syllable as /ʊm/ or /ʌm/ (e.g., PER-fuhm) and misplacing the /r/ in nonrhotic accents making /pe-ruːm/. The correct is a clear /ˈpɜːr.fjuːm/ in US, UK, and AU with a fast but distinct /fjuː/ onset in the second syllable. Practice the /r/ only when rhotic dialects require it; otherwise the first syllable should not be reduced. Keep the /juː/ glide tight to avoid a separate vowel intrusion.
In US English, the first syllable’s /ɜːr/ carries rhotic r quality; in UK English, the /r/ is less pronounced after a non-rhotic vowel, so it’s more like /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/ with a shorter r. Australian English follows rhotic tendencies similar to US but with subtle vowel flattening; the /juː/ sequence remains, producing /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/. The key differences lie in rhotic articulation and vowel quality in the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the /ɜːr/ cluster in the first syllable and the /fjuː/ onset in the second, which demands a smooth glide from /f/ into /juː/. Coordinating the r-controlled vowel with the light /f/ and avoiding an extra vowel or a /w/ sound requires precise tongue positioning and lip rounding. Pain points include avoiding a separate /juː/ as two syllables and keeping the stress on the first syllable.
Perfume features a two-syllable rhythm with a distinct /juː/ glide in the second syllable, unlike many two-syllable words that end with a nasal or stop. The combination /fjuː/ requires a quick, tight transition from /f/ to /juː/ without inserting a vowel. You can feel the glide starting at the top teeth edge, then close your lips to form /juː/ before finishing with /m/.
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US vs UK vs AU: • US: Rhotic /ˈpɜːr.fjuːm/ with clear rhotic /r/; /ɜːr/ is a single rhotic vowel. • UK: Similar but with less pronounced rhotic influence; /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/ and a shorter /r/ in many styles. • AU: Rhotic and vowel quality closer to US; keep /ɜː/ and /juː/ smooth; note flatter intonation. Vowel: /ɜː/ like 'nurse' in many dialects; /juː/ is a tight diphthong; keep lips rounded for /juː/. Consonants: /f/ is unaspirated to lightly aspirated after a pause.
Perfume comes from the Latin perfumare, meaning to smoke through or to perfume. The term was borrowed into English via Old French parfum et parfum, from Latin perfumare (to perfume, to smoke through). The root per- (through) and fumare (to smoke) reflect ancient practices of scenting with smoke and aromatic substances. In Middle English, perfumes were often associated with spices and essential oils blended with alcohol or oil bases; by the 14th–16th centuries, the term referred to both the scent itself and the bottles containing it. Over time, perfume evolved to denote a refined, high-quality fragrance product used in personal grooming, while the broader category of scents includes eau de cologne, eau de parfum, and body mist. First known uses appear in medieval and early modern pharmacopoeias and luxury catalogs, cementing perfume as both a practical product and a cultural symbol of refinement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Perfume" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Perfume"
-oon sounds
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