3 syllables: Pro, vi, so. Stress on vi.
pruh-VEYE-zoh
/pɹəˈvaɪzoʊ/
Proviso is pronounced pruh-VEYE-zoh (/pɹəˈvaɪzoʊ/). It has three syllables (Pro-vi-so), with the stress on "vi". Proviso is a formal noun meaning a condition or stipulation in a document or agreement that must be satisfied for the overall provision to apply. It functions as a qualifying clause that narrows or limits the scope of what is being stated. In practice, it flags a necessary exception or caveat to ensure precise interpretation.
nounProviso is a formal noun meaning a condition or stipulation in a document or agreement that must be satisfied for the overall provision to apply. It functions as a qualifying clause that narrows or limits the scope of what is being stated. In practice, it flags a necessary exception or caveat to ensure precise interpretation.
How to Pronounce Proviso
"The treaty includes a proviso that the ceasefire shall hold only if both sides monitor compliance."
"There is a proviso in the contract allowing early termination under specified circumstances."
"The law was passed with a proviso: funding would increase only if performance targets are met."
Pronunciation: pro-ˈvi-sō. IPA US: /prəˈvaɪ.zoʊ/; UK: /prəˈvaɪ.zəʊ/; AU: /prəˈvaɪ.zəʊ/. Primary stress on the second syllable: VIS-o? Notation: pro- (unstressed) + VISO with stress on VI. Start with a quick schwa in the first syllable, then a clear “vie” as /ˈvaɪ/ and a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the final syllable depending on accent. Mouth: lips relaxed, tip of tongue for /v/, then high front vowel /aɪ/ as in 'eye', then final /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ with rounded lips.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring the second syllable, making /vaɪ-/ sound like /və/ or /ˈvɪ/. 2) Not finishing the final /oʊ/ or /əʊ/; ending with a lax /zə/ or dropping the final vowel. Correction: produce a crisp /ˈvaɪ/ onset in the second syllable, then a clear /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ with a light /z/ before it if your accent allows; ensure the final vowel is syllabic and audible.
US pronunciation /prəˈvaɪ.zoʊ/ typically uses /zoʊ/ at the end with a clear /z/ before the final long /oʊ/. UK/AU often reduce the final vowel slightly: /prəˈvaɪ.zəʊ/ with a non-rhotic /ə/ before the /ʊ/ or /oʊ/. The rhotic difference matters: US retains post-vocalic /r/ if present elsewhere; here there is none, but the syllable density and vowel quality shift—UK/AU carry more centralized or shorter final vowel, less pronounced /oʊ/. Overall, stress remains on the second syllable across regions; rhythm is iambic-ish (unstressed-first, stressed-second).
Key challenges: the second syllable houses the diphthong /aɪ/ which can be mis-sounded as /æ/ or /ɪ/ without proper mouth opening; the final /zoʊ/ or /zəʊ/ requires dental fricative alignment a crisp z before a long back rounded vowel. It’s easy to give neutral schwa in the first syllable and misplace the stress, and some speakers may insert an extra syllable or de-emphasize the final vowel. Focus on the /ˈvaɪ/ nucleus and a clean, elongated final vowel.
A distinctive trait is the second syllable nucleus /ˈvaɪ/ with a relatively sharp onset, followed by a high-back long vowel /oʊ/ or mid back /əʊ/. Do not nasalize the final syllable; honor a crisp /z/ before the rounded vowel. This word benefits from recording and listening to native usage in legal contexts, since the prosody tends to be precise and controlled. The main trick is sustaining the /aɪ/ while transitioning to the final /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ without dragging.
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Proviso comes from Latin provisus, meaning 'foreseen, foreseen in advance,' formed from providere (‘to provide, foresee’). The noun as used in English dates to the 17th century, initially in legal and contractual language. It entered legal English via translations of Latin phrases embedded in treaties and statutes, where proviso signified a provisory clause—the condition that modifies the application of the main provision. Over time, the word broadened beyond formal documents to general usage for any qualifying condition added to a statement or agreement. The root providere combines pro- ‘forward, forth’ and videre ‘to see,’ signaling a foresight concept: a clause that looks ahead to exceptions. In early English texts, proviso appeared alongside other “ proviso “-rooted terms like provisory and proviso clause, maintaining a formal, somewhat dilatory tone. The word’s connotation remains tied to legalistic nuance, cautioning readers about conditional terms, though it is also used more casually to signal contingencies in everyday contracts and agreements.
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Words that rhyme with "Proviso"
-ivo sounds
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