4 syllables: Per, se, ver, ance. Stress on ver.
pur-suh-VIR-uhns
/ˌpɝsəˈvɪɹəns/
Perseverance is pronounced pur-suh-VIR-uhns (/ˌpɝsəˈvɪɹəns/). It has four syllables (Per-se-ver-ance), with the stress on "ver". Perseverance is the steady persistence in a course of action, despite difficulties, delays, or failures, aimed at long‑term goals. It implies sustained effort, resilience, and a determined attitude, often yielding eventual success. In everyday use, it describes the quality of continuing to push forward when progress is slow or obstacles arise.
nounPerseverance is the steady persistence in a course of action, despite difficulties, delays, or failures, aimed at long‑term goals. It implies sustained effort, resilience, and a determined attitude, often yielding eventual success. In everyday use, it describes the quality of continuing to push forward when progress is slow or obstacles arise.
- You may tilt toward a heavy first syllable; recalibrate by keeping the primary stress on the /vɪə/ chunk and letting the first syllable be lighter. Practice intentional light /ɜː/ or /ə/ quality in the first vowel to avoid over-pronunciation. - The middle /vɪə/ can collapse to /vɪ/ or /və/; keep the diphthong /ɪə/ intact with a gradual gliding from /ɪ/ to /ə/ toward the final syllable. - The final -ance often becomes /-əns/ or /-rənz/; ensure the /r/ and /ns/ are crisp; do not reduce /ə/ before /ns/ into a casual schwa. - In connected speech, avoid running the -ɪə/ too quickly; give it its own nucleus, then transition to /rəns/ with a light but perceptible /r/.
"Her perseverance through years of study finally paid off when she earned her degree."
"Despite repeated rejections, his perseverance kept him submitting applications until he found the right job."
"The team's perseverance helped them complete the project on time, even after setbacks."
Pronounce as /ˌpɜːr.səˈvɪə.rəns/ (US: /ˌpɜːr.səˈvɪə.rəns/; UK: /ˌpɜː.səˈvɪə.rəns/; AU: /ˌpəː.səˈvɪə.rəns/). The primary stress is on the third syllable (vɪə), with a lighter first syllable and a clear final -rance. Start with /p/ lip closure, then /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the second position, a light /r/ or rhoticAmerican /ɹ/ as you move to /sə/ then /ˈvɪə/ and end with /rəns/. Maintain the /v/ clearly and avoid turning -ver- into /ˈvər/ in stressed sequences. Listen to natural speech in a slow, careful mode to internalize the rhythm.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable instead of the -vɪə- syllable), softening or mispronouncing the middle /vɪə/ as /vɪə/ or /və/, and conflating the final -rance with /rants/ or /rən(s)/. Another frequent error is reducing the middle vowel too much, yielding /ˌpɜːr.səˈvɹən(s)/ or mispronouncing /ɪə/ as /iː/. Correct by practicing the central /vɪə/ cluster and ensuring the final /ns/ is crisp. Aim for a clear /ˈvɪə.rəns/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌpɜːr.səˈvɪə.rəns/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and sometimes a slightly schwa-like middle /sə/. UK English tends to use /ˌpɜː.səˈvɪə.rəns/ with non-rhotic /r/ after vowels and a potentially shorter /ɪə/ diphthong. Australian English often merges vowels toward /ə/ or /ɪə/ in the middle and maintains a non-rhotic /r/ in most dialects; stress remains the same on the /vɪə/ syllable. Practicing all three helps you sound regionally aware; listen for rhoticity and vowel quality differences and adjust accordingly.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed middle vowel sequence and the diphthong /ɪə/ in -vɪə- along with the final cluster -rəns. Learners often misplace primary stress or shorten the /ɪə/ into /ɪ/ or /eɪ/, and may voice the /r/ differently depending on the accent. Focusing on the distinct /v/ and the clear /əˈvɪə/ portion, and maintaining a crisp final /rəns/ helps stabilize pronunciation across contexts.
A unique aspect is keeping the sequence /səˈvɪə/ compact while ensuring the /r/ after /ɜː/ is not swallowed in fast speech. You should land the primary stress on the /vɪə/ portion and then a crisp /rəns/. The challenge is balancing a subtle /ɜː/ vs /ə/ in the first syllable, especially for learners whose own language uses different vowel inventories. Practice with slow, then speed-up while preserving the clear final -rəns.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ present; keep /pɜːr/ as a rounded start, with a clear /ɹ/. - UK: non-rhotic; the /r/ after vowels is often silent; ensure /ˌpɜː.səˈvɪə.rəns/ with final /r/ realized only before a vowel or avoided in coda. - AU: typically non-rhotic; vowels can be centralized; keep the -ɪə/ diphthong distinct and final /r/ minimal or silent. Use IPA guides and listen to native models. - Emphasize the central /vɪə/ and crisp /ns/ ending, with careful mouth shapes for /ɜː/ vs /ə/ in the first syllable.
Perseverance originates from the Old French perseverance, derived from Latin perseverantia, formed from per- ‘through, to the end’ + severus ‘severe, strict, serious’ and the agent-noun suffix -antia. The root Latin per- conveys continuation, while severus historically signified stern or severe conduct, gradually abstracting to steadfastness. In Middle English, perseverance appeared in the 14th–15th centuries, borrowed through Anglo-Norman literary usage. The word carried moral weight in religious and philosophical texts, emphasizing steadfast endurance in trials. By the 17th–18th centuries, perseverance broadened beyond moral virtue to secular contexts, describing persistent effort across disciplines such as science, exploration, and education. The modern sense centers on long-term effort despite obstacles, with connotations of resilience and consistent practice that contributes to eventual achievement. In contemporary usage, perseverance often collocates with phrases like “through sheer perseverance,” “perseverance pays off,” and “perseverance and dedication,” underscoring the reward of sustained effort.
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Words that rhyme with "Perseverance"
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