3 syllables: Pre, mi, ses. Stress on Pre.
PREM-uh-suhz
/ˈpɹɛməsəz/
Premises is pronounced PREM-uh-suhz (/ˈpɹɛməsəz/). It has three syllables (Pre-mi-ses), with the stress on "Pre". Premises (noun) refers to the land and buildings belonging to a property or business, or to the base assumptions or underlying basis of an argument. It is often used to describe a site or location, as in a company’s premises, or to denote initial propositions in logical reasoning. The term can also carry formal or legal connotations, particularly in contract language.
nounPremises (noun) refers to the land and buildings belonging to a property or business, or to the base assumptions or underlying basis of an argument. It is often used to describe a site or location, as in a company’s premises, or to denote initial propositions in logical reasoning. The term can also carry formal or legal connotations, particularly in contract language.
"The company announced that all staff would relocate to new premises next year."
"Legislation on safety standards applies to all premises, including temporary structures."
"From the premises, it’s clear that the project will require additional funding."
Pronounced /ˈprɛm.ɪ.zɪz/ (US: ˈprɛm.ɪ.zɪz, UK: ˈprem.ɪ.sɪz, AU: ˈprem.ɪ.sɪz). The main stress is on the first syllable: pre-. The middle vowel is a short 'e' as in ‘bet,’ and the final syllable contains a reduced schwa followed by an unvoiced z sound; say -zɪz with a light, quick ending. Visualize lips: soft start, front vowels, and a gentle tongue lift for the final z.
Common errors include over-stressing the second syllable (pre-MI-ses) and mispronouncing the final -ses as -siz or -sice. Another frequent mistake is reducing the middle vowel to a full ‘i’ as in ‘premises’ sounding like ‘prem-i-ses’ with a tense mouth. Correct by maintaining a light, relaxed mid-front vowel in the second syllable and clearly voicing the final z. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the difference: PRE-muh-siz vs. PREM-ih-siz.
In US English, the first syllable bears strong stress with a short 'e' (as in bet) and a clear final -zɪz. UK and AU often reduce and slightly shorten vowels, with less dramatic first-syllable vowel length; AU tends to be a bit softer overall and rhotics may vary in connected speech. The ending -zɪz remains voiced across accents. Maintain the /ˈprɛm.ɪ.zɪz/ pattern, but listen for subtle vowel shifts in rapid speech.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed mid vowel in the second syllable and the final -ses cluster, which requires a light, precise voicing. The transition from /ˈprɛm/ to /ɪ/ to /zɪz/ can feel tricky when speaking quickly, risking a trisyllabic flow or an unclear final consonant. Focus on a crisp, short /ɪ/ in the middle and a controlled voicing for /zɪz/ to keep the word compact and natural.
The word contains a common trap: syllable rhythm shifts between legal/formal and everyday usage. Stress remains on the first syllable, but in fast speech the medial vowel can reduce, making the word sound like pre-MI-siz. To combat this, emphasize the first syllable and keep the middle vowel distinct, even when speaking rapidly. Recording yourself helps identify when the middle vowel blurs.
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Premises comes from the Latin plural noun primas, meaning 'things placed before' or 'premises' as 'things laid down before' in formal or legal contexts, through medieval Latin usage. The English term evolved to mean the property or place in which someone resides or operates, reflecting its sense as ‘those things beforehand’ that outline the space and boundaries used for a particular activity. The word has a long history in legal and formal documents, often used in phrases like ‘on the premises.’ The shift from a general idea of “things placed before” to a concrete location occurred as legal and real estate language adopted the term to denote the physical grounds and buildings under ownership or tenancy. By the late 16th to 17th centuries, its usage solidified into the common noun indicating property or site, and later broadened to include figurative senses in arguments and discussions about underlying assumptions. First known use in English literature traces to legal and property texts from early modern English, with later adoption into everyday speech and business terminology. Throughout its evolution, the pronunciation has remained relatively stable, though spelling variants occasionally appeared in early texts before standardization.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Premises" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Premises"
-ses sounds
-mes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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