Prima facie is a Latin noun meaning ‘at first glance’ or ‘on the face of it.’ It denotes something that appears true based on initial evidence, without deeper examination. In legal and philosophical contexts it is used to describe a claim that stands as true unless rebutted by additional evidence, though practical use may cite the initial impression rather than ultimate truth.
- You might place primary emphasis on the second word, producing PRAI-muh FAY-sih. Tip: keep prima as the stronger beat and give facie a secondary beat, like PRAI-mə FAI-si̞. - You may shorten facie to 'fac' or 'face' incorrectly; ensure two syllables: /ˈfaɪ.siː/ or /ˈfiː/ at end. Tip: practice with slow tempo, count ‘one-two’ for the two words, then speed up. - You may mispronounce the vowel in prima; ensure the long I sound /aɪ/ in prima; avoid a short 'i' or 'ee' sound. Tip: exaggerate the I sound in your mouth, then release.
- US: dues on /ˈpraɪmə/ with rhotic R and clear /ˈfaɪsiː/. Vowel length in lunga; keep ‘prima’ with a light schwa in the second syllable. - UK: non-rhotic; strong /ˈpraɪmə/ and second word may be /ˈfæsiː/ or /ˈfaɪsiː/ depending on regional tend; maintain crisp separation between words. - AU: similar to US but with flatter intonation; ensure final /siː/ is held and not shortened.
"The prosecutor’s case was dismissed at trial because the evidence didn’t amount to prima facie proof of guilt."
"From a prima facie reading, the contract seems valid, but further review reveals hidden clauses."
"The judge asked for prima facie justification before considering the broader arguments."
"Although persuasive at first, the argument failed the prima facie test once the data was reviewed."
Prima facie derives from Latin, literally meaning “on first face.” The phrase combines prima, ‘first’ (from PIE root meaning ‘before, in front’) and facie, ‘face’ (from Latin facere, ‘to make; to do’). In Classical Latin, prima facie conveyed something that appeared so at the surface that it would hold unless contradicted. The expression entered English legal and philosophical discourse around the 17th–18th centuries, reflecting the jurisprudential habit of evaluating claims in stages—first by initial appearance, then by deeper evidentiary analysis. Over time, prima facie broadened beyond legal contexts to general use, indicating an initial, rather than definitive, assessment. In modern usage, it remains a formal Latin term retained in English prose, frequently italicized or capitalized when used as a noun phrase, and it appears in frequent in legal opinions, appellate rulings, and theoretical treatises. First known use in English citations appears in scholarly legal commentaries from the 1800s, with widespread adoption by the 20th century in both law and philosophy. The phrase embodies the notion that initial impressions can guide preliminary judgments, pending further investigation.
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Words that rhyme with "Prima Facie"
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Pronounce as PRAI-muh FAY-shee. Primary stress on the first syllable of prima (ˈpraɪ) and a secondary stress on the second word’s first syllable (ˈfaɪ). IPA: US/UK: ˈpraɪmə ˈfaɪsiː or ˈfashiː. In careful pronunciation you’ll articulate /ˈpraɪ.mə ˈfæ.siː/ in some registers, with final -ci pronounced as -see (ˈsiː). Audio cues: begin with a clear long I in prima and a long E or EE sound in facie depending on accent.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the second word’s second syllable) or pronouncing facie as /fæˈsi/ instead of /ˈfiː/ or /ˈsiː/. Another frequent issue is smoothing the word together too quickly, yielding PRAI-mə-FAS-ee rather than PRAI-mə FAI-see, and mispronouncing facie as face-E. Correction tips: emphasize prima with a clear long I (ˈpraɪ), keep facie as two syllables with the long E at the end (ˈfiː-? or ˈsiː) depending on region; pause between words for clarity.
US: ˈpraɪ.mə ˈfaɪ.siː with strong rhotics and a clear long I in both prima and facie. UK: ˈpraɪ.mə ˈfæs.iː or ˈfæ.siː; less pronounced R and a more clipped second syllable. AU: ˈpraɪ.mə ˈfaɪ.siː, similar to US but with flatter intonation and less rhoticity in casual speech. Pay attention to whether facie is pronounced with /siː/ or /si/; some speakers reduce the final vowel. All share two-stress pattern, but vowel quality and final consonants shift subtly by accent.
Difficulties stem from the two-word combination with Latin pronunciation rules, the near-stress shift between prima and facie, and subtle vowel quality: the second word often ends with a long E (ː) sound that non-native speakers mispronounce as a short /i/ or /ɪ/. The initial long I in prima can be tricky if you’re not used to English vowel length. Focus on maintaining the two-syllable rhythm and separating the words clearly.
A distinct feature is the transition from the Latin first syllable to the second word’s vowel; many learners misplace stress on the second word or blend the words, producing PRAI-muh-FAY-see or PRAI-muh-FACE-ee. The correct form keeps stress on the first syllable of prima and on the first syllable of facie, with facie ending in a long E sound in many accents. Practicing with careful pauses helps.
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- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say ‘Prima facie’ in context (legal brief or lecture) and mimic within a single breath, pausing between words. - Minimal pairs: practice with “prime – prime tie” or “proof – foes” to tune vowel differences. - Rhythm: say 1-2-1-2 syllable pattern; count ‘PRI-ma FAY-ci’ with two stressed moments. - Stress practice: mark primary stress on prima, secondary on facie; rehearse with different sentence positions to feel natural. - Recording: record yourself saying phrases; compare to a native sample; adjust mouth shapes and vowel length.
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