2 syllables: pro, grammes. Stress on pro.
PROH-gramz
/ˈprəʊɡræmz/
programmes is pronounced PROH-gramz (/ˈprəʊɡræmz/). It has two syllables (pro-grammes), with the stress on "pro". Programmes is the plural noun form used primarily in British English to denote structured plans of activities or broadcasts; in US English, the variant programmes is often rendered as programs, though programme is also used in some domains. The word comprises two syllables with primary stress on the first: PRO-grammes. It functions as a countable noun and appears in contexts like television lineups, software plans, or scheduled events.
Programmes is the plural noun form used primarily in British English to denote structured plans of activities or broadcasts; in US English, the variant programmes is often rendered as programs, though programme is also used in some domains. The word comprises two syllables with primary stress on the first: PRO-grammes. It functions as a countable noun and appears in contexts like television lineups, software plans, or scheduled events.
"The BBC and other networks air several entertaining programmes each week."
"The city council reviewed community programmes aimed at youth development."
"My college has new academic programmes across science and humanities."
US: /ˈproʊɡræmz/; UK/AU: /ˈprəʊ.ɡræmz/ with primary stress on the first syllable. In connected speech, you’ll hear a light, quick final /mz/ cluster; keep the /g/ as a hard stop before /ræm/. Tip: start with PROH- as in PRO- then GRAHMZ. Audio reference: [sound cue: PRO- GRAHMZ].
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring or reducing the first vowel to a schwa for long words, producing /prəˈɡræmz/ instead of /ˈproʊɡræmz/ in US. 2) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈproʊɡræmz/ with reduced or misaligned second syllable. Correction: emphasize the first syllable strongly; ensure the second syllable has a clear /ɡræm/ onset. Practice with a two-beat rhythm: PRO- GRAMZ, not pro-GRAMS.
US typically uses programs, with a shorter first vowel in some speakers; the UK/AU retain programme plural as programmes, with /ˈprəʊ.ɡræmz/ and non-rhoticity often affecting the r: near the vowel, the /r/ is not pronounced before a vowel in many British dialects. AU varieties are similar to UK but may be slightly flatter vowels, and some speakers retain weak rhotics or glottal stops depending on region.
It challenges non-native and even native speakers due to the cluster /ɡræmz/ immediately after a stressed syllable and the final /mz/ combination. The /ɡ/ can be softened in rapid speech, and the second syllable //æ/ can be reduced in some dialects. Tension also arises from maintaining a crisp /ˈprɑ(ʊ)/ or /ˈproʊ/ quality before the /ɡ/ onset, so fine-tuning lip rounding and jaw openness helps.
A unique point is the pluralization of the British spelling with -mes, which often yields a final voiced /mz/ cluster, not always obvious in rapid speech. You’ll want to ensure a clean /m/ closing and the following /z/ voice. Visualize the mouth as maintaining a round lips for the first vowel and releasing into /ɡræmz/.
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The word programme originated from the French programme, which itself derives from Greek pro- “before” and gramma “a written thing, something drawn or written,” via Latin programma and later English. In Middle French, programme referred to a written notice or plan. In English usage, the sense broadened from a written plan to include broadcasts and itineraries. The spelling programme was predominant in British English into the 20th century, reflecting its French roots and the classical -gramme form; during the late 20th century, American English increasingly dropped the -mme to become program, aligning with other -gram words like diagram, monogram. The plural form for British usage remains programmes, while in American usage, programs is the standard plural, though programme in singular can still appear in British contexts (e.g., the programme of studies). The earliest attestations of programme in English appear in the 17th–18th centuries, but the semantic expansion into broadcasting and software planning occurred in the 20th century with mass media and computing. The word’s evolution mirrors a shift from a written plan to dynamic, event-driven collections of acts or modules. IPA and spelling variations reflect broader cross-Atlantic linguistic patterns.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "programmes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "programmes"
-ams sounds
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