2 syllables: Pre, cis. Stress on Pre.
PRAY-see
/ˈpɹeɪˌsi/
Precis is pronounced PRAY-see (/ˈpɹeɪˌsi/). It has two syllables (Pre-cis), with the stress on "Pre". Precis is a noun meaning a concise summary of a text or speech, typically conveying the essential points in a brief, clear form. It can also refer to a formal summary in academic or professional contexts. The term emphasizes brevity and accuracy, often used in journalism, academia, and business communications.
nounPrecis is a noun meaning a concise summary of a text or speech, typically conveying the essential points in a brief, clear form. It can also refer to a formal summary in academic or professional contexts. The term emphasizes brevity and accuracy, often used in journalism, academia, and business communications.
- Practice Common Mistakes: • Mistake: Over-emphasizing the second syllable and making it a full vowel like 'piece' ending in /z/ or /ɪz/. Correction: keep second syllable short and clipped: /ɪs/; end with a crisp /s/. • Mistake: Not differentiating /eɪ/ from a short /e/; you might say /prɛsɪs/ instead of /ˈpreɪ.sɪs/. Correction: deliver a clear diphthong /eɪ/ in first syllable. • Mistake: Final consonant mispronounced as /z/; you should use voiceless /s/. Correction: focus on a voiceless s, not a voiced z.
How to Pronounce Precis
"The librarian handed me a Precis of the article to save time."
"In class, she prepared a Precis of the chapter to discuss its key arguments."
"The editor requested a Precis to accompany the report."
Pronounce as /ˈpreɪ.sɪs/ in US and typically /ˈpre.sɪs/ in UK, with the first syllable stressed. In American speech, say 'PRAY-sis' with a long 'a' in the first syllable; the second syllable is a short, unstressed 'sɪs' toward a light 's'. In many UK and Australian usages, the first syllable is /ˈpres/ (rhymes with 'press'); the second syllable remains /ɪs/. Audio references include common dictionaries and pronunciation resources for confirmation.
Common mistakes include: 1) Reducing the first syllable to /prɪ/ or /prɛ/ instead of a crisp /ˈpreɪ/ (misses the long 'a' sound). 2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /ɪs/ with a full vowel like 'is' in 'his' rather than the reduced /ɪs/ or /ɪz/ in fast speech. 3) Over-enunciating the final 's' to /z/ in careful speech; often the ending is a voiceless /s/. Correction: hold the first syllable with a clear /eɪ/ vowel, keep the second syllable short and clipped, and end on /s/ rather than /z.
In US English, /ˈpreɪ.sɪs/ with a pronounced diphthong /eɪ/ in the first syllable and a short /ɪ/ in the second, often with a light final /s/. In UK English, many speakers reduce the first syllable to /prɛ/ or /ˈpresɪs/ with a shorter /e/ and less vowel length, and the ending may be a shorter /ɪs/. Australian English tends to mirror US patterns with a clear /eɪ/ in the first syllable and a clipped /ɪs/ in the second, but vowel reduction and consonant strength vary by speaker. Overall, rhotics are limited to some US varieties, impacting the overall texture.
The difficulty centers on the two-syllable balance: the first syllable carries a diphthong /eɪ/ that demands a precise tongue height movement, and the second syllable contains a short, reduced vowel /ɪ/ with a final /s/ that blends quickly in fluent speech. Non-native speakers often misplace the stress or lengthen the second syllable, making the word sound like two disjointed parts. Practicing the exact vowel qualities and the swift, crisp /s/ helps maintain a natural, authoritative precis.
A notable feature is the optional variation in the first syllable’s vowel quality: some speakers strongly articulate /preɪ/ as in 'prey,' while others opt for a more compact /pres/ due to faster speech or regional habit. The stress remains on the first syllable, but the length and quality of the first vowel can shift slightly, especially in careful speech versus rapid conversational use, making the word sound like /ˈpre.sɪs/ in some dialects.
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US: /ˈpreɪ.sɪs/ with rhotic accents: /r/ is not involved in this word; UK/AU: /ˈpres.ɪs/ or /ˈpre.sɪs/ with shorter first vowel. Vowel guidance: first syllable has /eɪ/ in US; AU varies but tends toward /eɪ/ as well. Consonant: final /s/ is crisp and voiceless; avoid adding /z/.
Precis originates from the French word précis, meaning a precise or exact, succinct statement. The French term derives from Latin praeceptum? actually not; rather, précis is from the French pratique? Historically, the word entered English in the 19th century during the rise of formal rhetoric, dictionary, and editorial practices. The French word précis literally translates to “precise, exact,” aligning with the English noun meaning a concise summary. Its spelling often led English speakers to mispronounce it as “pre-SEE-iss” or “PRAY-sis.” The pronunciation shift in English settled on a stress pattern closer to “PRAY-sis” in many regions, though usage has preserved the “-sis” ending pronounced as /-ɪs/ in standard varieties. First known use in English literature traces to academic or editorial circles in the mid-1800s, coinciding with modern journalism’s demand for concise digests of longer texts. Over time, the word has become a common term in academic writing, journalism, and business communication, retaining its French orthography while adopting English phonology. The term’s meaning has remained stable—an exact, condensed summary—though in some contexts it’s used more broadly to denote any brief synopsis or abstract of content. Contemporary usage aligns with professional environments where precision and brevity are valued, and it is frequently seen in style guides and editorial instructions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Precis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Precis"
-ece sounds
-ase sounds
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