4 syllables: Per, spi, ra, tion. Stress on ra.
pur-spur-AY-shuhn
/ˌpɝspɚˈeɪʃən/
Perspiration is pronounced pur-spur-AY-shuhn (/ˌpɝspɚˈeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Per-spi-ra-tion), with the stress on "ra". Perspiration is the process of sweating, or the sweat itself, produced by the sweat glands. In daily use it refers to moisture on the skin caused by heat, exertion, or nervousness. As a term, it is formal and clinical enough for medical or scientific contexts, yet common in everyday discussion of bodily responses.
nounPerspiration is the process of sweating, or the sweat itself, produced by the sweat glands. In daily use it refers to moisture on the skin caused by heat, exertion, or nervousness. As a term, it is formal and clinical enough for medical or scientific contexts, yet common in everyday discussion of bodily responses.
How to Pronounce Perspiration
"She wiped away the perspiration from her brow after the uphill climb."
"The athlete's perspiration dampened his shirt during the intense match."
"A light sheen of perspiration formed as she spoke in the hot classroom."
Break it into four syllables: per-spi-ra-tion. Primary stress lands on the third syllable (ri). In IPA: US /ˌpɜːr.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/, UK /ˌpəˈspɪːˈreɪ.ʃən/? actually standard is /ˌpɜː.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/; AU mirrors US. Tip: start with /pɜːr/ (like burr with a p), then /spə/ (schwa), then /ˈreɪ/ (ray), then /ʃən/ (shun). Imagine saying “pur-spuh-RAY-shun” with strong middle stress on RAY.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by stressing the first or second syllable instead of the third: aim for /ˌpɜː.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/. 2) Slurring /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ into /ˈreɪʃən/ or dropping the second syllable schwa, giving ‘per-spu-ray-shun.’ 3) Vowel quality in /pɜːr/ or /ˌpəˈ/; avoid a tense /ɜː/ in American English that makes it sound heavy; keep a relaxed /ə/ in the second syllable. Practice with slow, precise enunciation: pur-spuh-RAY-shun.
US and AU typically use /ˌpɜːr.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/, with rhotic /r/ in the first syllable. UK often uses /ˌpəˈspɪəˈreɪʃən/ or /ˌpəː.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/, reducing the first vowel to a schwa and keeping the /r/ non-rhotic in some dialects. AU tends toward rhoticity but can keep a rounded /ə/; the /ɪə/ sequence can surface in more conservative accents. Primary stress typically on the third syllable /ˈreɪ/. Listen for the /ˈreɪ/ beat and a delicate /ʃən/ end.
Because of the multi-syllable structure and the stressed mid- syllable /ˈreɪ/ within a word where two vowels combine (spə-). The sequence /spəˈreɪ/ can tempt English speakers to misplace stress or mispronounce /rəˈ/ as /rə/; you also have to manage the /ˈreɪ/ with a clear, elongated vowel and then the final /ʃən/ cluster. Practice isolating the three core phonemes: /spə/, /ˈreɪ/, /ʃən/. Ensure the /r/ is pronounced if you’re rhotic; otherwise the /r/ may be silent in non-rhotic accents.
The interplay of /sp/ cluster at the boundary (purs— at the end of per- and start of spi-), and the mid-word vowel shift to /ə/ in the second syllable, plus the prominent /ˈreɪ/ vowel can trip listeners. Keep the first syllable light, the second as a quick schwa, and the stressed /reɪ/ as a strong vowel followed by a crisp /ʃən/. Emphasize the second half without swallowing the /ˈreɪ/.
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Perspiration comes from the Latin perspirare, meaning to breathe through or to perspire, composed of per- (through) + spirare (to breathe). The form perspirare appeared in Latin early in the classical period, with the noun perspiration later borrowed into French as perspiration and then into English from Middle French influence. The English term appeared by the 15th century, initially in medical or physiological texts, and gradually broadened to everyday usage. The root spir- relates to breathing or blowing, but in perspiration it shifted to the notion of moisture released through the skin via sweat glands. Over time, perspiration acquired a neutral, clinical tone in science and medicine, while in informal speech it can carry a lighter or humorous connotation depending on context. The word has maintained its core meaning across centuries, consistently connecting the physiological act of sweating to the visible moisture that forms on skin. First known English usage is documented in early modern medical writings, with broader adoption in general lexicon as science and anatomy became more accessible to lay readers. During the Industrial and modern medical eras, perspiration entered common discourse as people discussed health, heat exposure, sport, and nervousness, retaining its precise physiological sense while sometimes appearing in idiomatic expressions like “let your perspiration do the talking.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Perspiration" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Perspiration"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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