2 syllables: Pur, sue. Stress on sue.
pur-SOO
/pɚˈsu/
Pursue is pronounced pur-SOO (/pɚˈsu/). It has two syllables (Pur-sue), with the stress on "sue". Pursue is a verb meaning to follow with intent to seize, attain, or achieve something, often with determination or persistence. It can also function as a noun in some legal or formal contexts, though this usage is rare. In everyday English, it most commonly appears in phrases like “pursue a goal” or “pursue a career.”.
nounPursue is a verb meaning to follow with intent to seize, attain, or achieve something, often with determination or persistence. It can also function as a noun in some legal or formal contexts, though this usage is rare. In everyday English, it most commonly appears in phrases like “pursue a goal” or “pursue a career.”
How to Pronounce Pursue
"She decided to pursue a career in engineering after college."
"The detective vowed to pursue the truth no matter where it led."
"They will pursue legal action if the terms aren’t met."
Pronounce as per-SUE, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /pɚˈsuː/, UK /pəˈsjuː/, AU /pəˈsjuː/. Start with a relaxed schwa preceding a clear /p/ burst, then a light /r/ (rhotic in US), followed by /ˈsuː/ as a long 'oo' like 'sue'. Tip: keep the tongue postion high for /uː/ and ensure the /sj/ sequence blends smoothly as /sjuː/. Audio reference: you can compare pronunciations on reputable dictionaries or pronunciation platforms for the exact variant you’re aiming for.
Common mistakes: 1) Stressed on the first syllable as /ˈpɜːrsuː/ instead of /pɚˈsuː/; 2) Slurring the /sj/ into /s/ or /j/ separately, producing /pərˈsu/; 3) Omitting the /r/ or misplacing it in non-rhotic accents. Corrections: ensure the second syllable carries primary stress and features a smooth /sjuː/ cluster; pronounce /p/ with a light puff, cue the rhotic vowel by curling the tongue slightly toward the palate in US, and practice the /sj/ blend by starting with /s/ then quickly moving to /j/ into the /uː/ vowel.
In US English, /pɚˈsuː/ with a rhotic schwa; in UK English, /pəˈsjuː/ with non-rhoticity in some speakers and a clearer /j/ in the onset of the second syllable; in Australian English, /pəˈsjuː/ with vowel qualities approaching /ə/ in the first syllable and a non-rhotic realization for some speakers. The second syllable always carries the long /uː/ sound, but the preceding vowel quality and rhotic linking can change. Focus on keeping /sj/ as a compact cluster before /uː/.
The difficulty lies in the /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the first syllable combined with the /sj/ cluster before the long /uː/ vowel. Some speakers tense the tongue for /ɚ/ or reduce it to /ə/, which can mask the /r/ coloring in rhotic varieties. The /sj/ blend requires precise tongue positioning to avoid a hard /s/ or a separate /j/. Mastery involves practicing the transition from the schwa into the /sjuː/ sequence with steady tempo.
Does 'pursue' involve a subtle intrusion of the /r/ in non-rhotic accents? In many non-rhotic UK varieties, the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel, so the tongue action for /r/ may be less prominent, producing /pəˈsjuː/ with a more vowel-like onset. In US rhotic speech, you will feel a stronger /ɹ/ coloring before the /ˈsuː/. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'peer' vs 'pursue' helps you feel the rhotic influence and the /sj/ blend.
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Pursue comes from the Old French poursuivre, based on the Latin persequi meaning to follow to its end (per- ‘through, to the end’ + sequi ‘to follow’). The word entered English in Middle English as pursue (late 13th–14th centuries) with the sense of following someone or something to capture or communicate. In Early Modern English, it broadened to include the pursuit of goals, interests, or actions, retaining the core idea of following persistently or actively. By the 16th century, pursue also carried legal connotations in which one follows a party through legal channels. The modern sense—actively chasing or seeking a desired outcome—became dominant in everyday usage. First known uses appear in legal and literary contexts, with records in legal documents and poetry illustrating its long lifecycle from a literal act of following to an abstract pursuit of objectives. Over time, the pronunciation stabilized into /pərˈsjuː/ in American English and /pəˈsjuː/ in many British varieties, reflecting vowel shifts and stress patterns typical of English’s evolution from Latin-derived borrowings. In contemporary usage, pursue often collocates with nouns like career, goals, dreams, and interests, signaling intentional, goal-oriented action.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pursue" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pursue"
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