3 syllables: Pride And Pre, ju, dice. Stress on Pride And Pre.
PREYED AND PREJ-uh dis
/ˈpraɪd ˈænd ˈprɛdʒə dɪs/
Pride And Prejudice is pronounced PREYED AND PREJ-uh dis (/ˈpraɪd ˈænd ˈprɛdʒə dɪs/). It has three syllables (Pride And Pre-ju-dice), with the stress on "Pride And Pre". Pride and Prejudice is a famous 19th‑century novel by Jane Austen, often cited as a canonical work of English literature. It centers on Elizabeth Bennet and her evolving relationship with the aristocratic Mr. Darcy, exploring themes of love, social class, and personal growth. The phrase also appears as a widely recognized title in film, television, and academic discourse.
proper nounPride and Prejudice is a famous 19th‑century novel by Jane Austen, often cited as a canonical work of English literature. It centers on Elizabeth Bennet and her evolving relationship with the aristocratic Mr. Darcy, exploring themes of love, social class, and personal growth. The phrase also appears as a widely recognized title in film, television, and academic discourse.
How to Pronounce Pride And Prejudice
"- I reread Pride and Prejudice last weekend and found new details in the dialogue."
"- The professor assigned Pride and Prejudice as the primary text for the Victorian literature seminar."
"- Her discussion of Pride and Prejudice highlighted its enduring themes of pride, prejudice, and self-awareness."
US: /ˈpraɪd ænd ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/. Put primary stress on Pride and on Prejudice. Start with a clear P-r-i-d-e, then a light pause between the two words. The second word begins with the affricate /pr/, followed by /ɛː/ or /ɛ/ in most accents, and ends with /dʒʊdɪs/. UK: similar, /ˈpraɪd ænd ˈprɛdʒədɪs/, with a slightly lighter /ə/ in the second syllable. AU: /ˈpɹaɪd ænd ˈpɹɛdʒʊdɪs/, rhoticity less pronounced, still two‑word stress. A quick listening reference: search for the title spoken in audiobook or film trailers to match rhythm and emphasis.
Common mistakes: (1) Slurring Pride and Prejudice together into a single word; (2) Mispronouncing Prejudice as Prej-uh-dice with a weak /dʒ/ sound or dropping the middle schwa; (3) Compressing the second word so it sounds like 'Prej-uh-dis' without full /dʒ/ or with a muted /r/. Correction: pronounce Pride with a clear /aɪ/ vowel and strong /d/; pronounce Prejudice as /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/ with a distinct /dʒ/ and a non‑reduced /ʊ/ before the final /dɪs/. Practice separate enunciation of each word, then link with a short pause.
US tends to rhotic /ɹ/ with a clearer /ɪ/ in 'Pride' and a stronger /ə/ in the second word’s middle syllable. UK often achieves a tighter /ˈpraɪd ænd ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/ with a slightly darker /ɜ/ in some speakers and less rhoticity in some Southern varieties. Australian generally has less rhoticity than US, with vowel quality closer to /æ/ or /ɛ/ in some speakers and a more relaxed /ə/ in the middle syllable. In all, the first word keeps its /aɪ/; the second word's /dʒ/ and the central schwa are common points of variation.
The difficulty lies in the transition between the two words: Pride ends with /aɪd/, then a quick shift to Prejudice with /prɛdʒʊdɪs/. The cluster /pr/ at the start of Prejudice, the /dʒ/ in /-dʒʊ-/, and the reduced or unstressed middle vowel in the second word can trip non‑native speakers. Stabilize the two-word boundary with a brief, crisp pause, exaggerate the /dʒ/ for accuracy, and ensure the /ɪ/ of -dɪs isn’t swallowed. IPA cues: /ˈpraɪd ænd ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/ (US) and /ˈpraɪd ænd ˈprɛdʒədɪs/ (UK).
A distinctive feature is the clear, two‑beat title rhythm, with a strong initial stress on Pride followed by a crisp second‑word stress on Prejudice. Learners should aim for two even trochaic syllables in the title, with pronounced /pr/ clusters at the start of both words. Additionally, keep the /dʒ/ sound fully voiced in /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/ to avoid mispronouncing as /-dʒədɪs/ or /-dʒuz/. Practicing the exact IPA forms helps lock in the correct mouth shapes.
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The title Pride and Prejudice originates from English, combining two abstract traits used to describe personal conduct. Pride traces to Old French pri, from Latin dignitas, through Middle English pryd, evolving to indicate a high sense of self‑esteem or superiority. Prejudice derives from Latin praejudicium (judgment beforehand), via Old French prejudice, underscoring biased or preconceived opinions about people or situations. The combined phrase first appears in early modern English to critique social bias in courtship and class structures, a theme Austen reframes through Elizabeth Bennet’s dialogue and Darcy’s introspection. While the exact book title crystallized in the 19th century, its modern usage as a cultural reference to judging quickly and the social pressures of Regency society reinforces the word pair’s enduring resonance. Early modern usage often appeared in literary critiques and salon discussions; by the late 1700s and early 1800s, Pride and Prejudice had become a recognizable phrase in novels and discourse about manners, virtue, and marriage. Today, the title functions as a stable proper noun encountered in literature courses, film adaptations, and popular media, carrying with it historical associations with Austen’s wit, social critique, and nuanced character development. The evolution of the phrase mirrors the broader English shift from courtly, elaborate diction to accessible, pointed social commentary in fiction.
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Words that rhyme with "Pride And Prejudice"
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