3 syllables: Per, qui, site. Stress on Per.
PUR-kwuh-zit
/ˈpɝkwəzɪt/
Perquisite is pronounced PUR-kwuh-zit (/ˈpɝkwəzɪt/). It has three syllables (Per-qui-site), with the stress on "Per". Perquisite is a noun meaning a benefit or privilege that comes in addition to an individual's regular salary or wages, often provided by an employer. It can also refer to any incidental gain or perk associated with a position. The term emphasizes non-salary advantages that can affect overall compensation or status.
nounPerquisite is a noun meaning a benefit or privilege that comes in addition to an individual's regular salary or wages, often provided by an employer. It can also refer to any incidental gain or perk associated with a position. The term emphasizes non-salary advantages that can affect overall compensation or status.
"The new manager enjoyed a perquisite of a company car and ample expense accounts."
"Employees often consider gym memberships and free meals as perquisites of the job."
"She inherited a perquisite in the form of stock options along with her salary."
Pronounce it as /ˈpɜːr.kwɪ.zɪt/ (US/UK), with primary stress on the first syllable: PER-kwih-zit. Start with an open, mid-central vowel in the first syllable, then a quick /kw/ blend for the second, followed by a light /ɪ/ and a final /t/ or /d/ depending on the speaker. For audio cues, think: PER-quit with a short -kwih- segment and a clear, crisp final -zit.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., per-QUI-site), mispronouncing the middle /kwɪ/ as /kwɪə/ or /kwi/, and running the final /t/ too hard. Correction: place primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈpɜːr.kwɪ.zɪt/. Practice the middle as a short /ɪ/ in a tight /kw/ cluster, and finish with a light, unreleased /t/ or a final short /t/. Listen for a crisp end with the tongue tip close to the alveolar ridge.
In US/UK/AU, the first syllable maintains /ˈpɜːr/ or /ˈpɜːr/ with rhoticity affecting the r sound. UK may have a slightly shorter /ɜː/ and less rhotic drawl, while US tends toward a more pronounced rhotic /ɜr/. The /kwɪ/ sequence remains consistent, but Australians may reduce the /ɪ/ slightly and fuse vowels in fast speech, yielding something closer to /ˈpɜː.kwɪ.zɪt/. Overall, the stress pattern stays 固 on the first syllable across regions.
The difficulty lies in the stressed first syllable with a mid-central vowel and the consonant cluster /kw/ followed by a short /ɪ/ before the final /zɪt/. Many non-native speakers misplace stress, merge the /kw/ into /k/ or /w/ alone, or over-enunciate the final /t/. Tip: practice the sequence PER-kwih-zit slowly, then gradually accelerate while keeping /kw/ tightly bound and the /ɪ/ brief.
No letters are silent in standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: /ˈpɜːr.kwɪ.zɪt/ includes the pronounced t at the end in most dialects, though some rapid American speech may devoice or softly veil the final /t/. Emphasize that the final sound is an audible /t/ in careful speech.
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Perquisite comes from the Old French perquis, derived from perquis—past participle of perquirir meaning to seek out, from Latin perquirere (to search for carefully; to look into). The early English form in the 14th century signified something sought after, a privilege or additional gain. Over time, the sense narrowed to those special advantages attached to a position or office, ultimately equating to non-salary benefits. The word’s construction mirrors other French-influenced legal and administrative terms. The modern usage as a privilege or incidental benefit arose in business and clerical employments, especially where official compensation included non-monetary perks. First known use dates back to Middle English transcripts where “perquisite” referred to a privilege attached to a position, such as fees or profits beyond regular wages. The term has kept its formal register, often appearing in legal or corporate contexts when listing compensation components. In contemporary usage, perquisites are commonly abbreviated as “perks” in everyday speech, while “perquisite” itself retains a more specialized connotation. > century references illustrate evolving social attitudes toward executive compensation and corporate benefits, with the word becoming a staple in discussions of remuneration packages and office culture.
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Words that rhyme with "Perquisite"
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