3 syllables: Per, man, ent. Stress on Per.
PUR-muh-nuhnt
/ˈpɝmənənt/
Permanent is pronounced PUR-muh-nuhnt (/ˈpɝmənənt/). It has three syllables (Per-man-ent), with the stress on "Per". Permanent is an adjective meaning lasting or intended to last indefinitely, not temporary. It describes something with enduring duration or permanence in effect, appearance, or state. In everyday use, it contrasts with temporary or provisional and often implies permanence in implications or commitment.
adjectivePermanent is an adjective meaning lasting or intended to last indefinitely, not temporary. It describes something with enduring duration or permanence in effect, appearance, or state. In everyday use, it contrasts with temporary or provisional and often implies permanence in implications or commitment.
- You often misplace stress by leaning into the second syllable; remember to keep primary stress on the first syllable: PER-. - Run-on vowels in the middle syllable: avoid “per-MEN-t” or “PER-man-ENT”; aim for a fast, neutral /mənə/ sequence. - Final consonant cluster /nt/ can be too aspirated or clipped; aim for a light, quick /nt/ release. - In connected speech, you might link to the next word, which can blur the distinct syllables; practice over- enunciating then gradually reduce.”,
"The decision to relocate became permanent after she signed the lease."
"He wears a permanent smile that signals his optimistic outlook."
"They installed a permanent fixture in the kitchen to replace the old one."
Pronounce as PER-mee-nuhnt in many accents: IPA US /ˈpɜːrmənənt/, UK /ˈpɜːmənənt/, AU /ˈpɜːməˌnənt/. Primary stress on the first syllable, with a quick, schwa-like second syllable. The final -nant sounds like -nənt or -nənt, with an almost second vowel reduced. Begin with the open-mid back unrounded vowel /ɜː/ (or /ɜː/ in UK); then /m/; then /ə/; then /nənt/. Practice maintaining the long first vowel and avoid inserting extra syllables. Audio reference: you’d hear PER-muh-nuhnt in natural speech.”,
Common errors include over-pronouncing the second syllable as /par-MEN-t/ with a strong stress on -ment, or misplacing the vowel in the second syllable as /ˌpɜːrˈmɛnənt/. Also, some speakers insert an extra syllable: /ˈpɜːrmən-eɪnt/. The correct approach keeps primary stress on the first syllable, uses a reduced schwa in the second syllable, and avoids splitting the final -nant into multiple distinct sounds. Focus on a clean /ˈpɜːrmənənt/; let the /ə/ schwa flow into /nənt/.”,
In US English, /ˈpɜːrmənənt/ with rhotic r, pronounced /ˈpɜːr.mɪnənt/ or /ˈpɜːrmənənt/ depending on speaker. UK English tends toward /ˈpɜːmənənt/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a slightly shorter /ɜː/; AU typically /ˈpɜːməˌnənt/ with a prominent /ɜː/ and a light /nənt/. Differences also include vowel quality in /ɜː/ versus /ɪ/ or reduced /ə/ in the second syllable and the presence of linking or alveolar tapping in rapid speech. Listen to regional samples to align with your target audience.”,
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a reduced middle syllable; the transition from /ɜːr/ to /mən/ requires steady tongue position and a quick schwa release. The -nant ending includes a nasal consonant cluster that can invite mispronunciations like /ˈpɜːrmɛn-t/ or /ˈpɜːrmənjənt/. Mastery requires smooth schwa insertion and avoiding vowel duration shifts that turn it into /ˈpɜːrmənænt/. Practice with minimal pairs to anchor correct vowel durations.”,
As a three-syllable word with a final -nant variant, you might wonder about the /t/ release after /nə/. In careful speech you’ll hear a light aspirated /t/ in careful enunciations, but in fast speech it can be almost silent, blending into /nənt/. This makes the difference between clinical, precise pronunciation and natural, fluent speech. Focus on finishing the final /nt/ crisply in formal contexts while allowing subtle reduction in casual speech.
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- US: emphasize /ˈpɜrmənənt/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ə/ in the second syllable; keep stress on the first; use a slightly longer /ɜː/ quality. - UK: non-rhotic /r/, shorter first vowel, more clipped second syllable; ensure non-rhotic r. - AU: /ˈpɜːməˌnənt/ with a strong /ː/ length in first syllable, and a light schwa in the third syllable; a more melodic rhythm; maintain r-coloring depending on speaker and context.
Permanent comes from the Old French permanent, from Latin permanentem, the present participle of permanere meaning to endure or stay. The Latin root perman-, from per- (through) + manere (to remain, stay). The semantic shift progressed from “standing fast, lasting” to the modern sense of “lasting indefinitely or for a very long time.” In English, permanent appeared in the late Middle English period, drawing on legal and architectural contexts where lasting status or enduring conditions were described. Over centuries, usage broadened from concrete permanence (structures, positions) to abstract qualities (permanent feelings, permanent solutions). The word often appears in contrast to temporary or provisional, underscoring a sense of durability or finality. Early citations convey the idea of something fixed or abiding, and later usage increasingly notes permanence in time, state, or effect, including expressions like “permanent fixture” or “permanent residency.” Today, it spans domains from material permanence to bureaucratic or existential permanence, retaining its core sense of durability and long-term persistence across languages that borrowed the term via Latin roots.
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Words that rhyme with "Permanent"
-ent sounds
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