2 syllables: Pur, suit. Stress on suit.
pur-SOOT
/pɚˈsut/
Pursuit is pronounced pur-SOOT (/pɚˈsut/). It has two syllables (Pur-suit), with the stress on "suit". Pursuit is the act of chasing or striving to attain something, often with determination. It can denote a quest or goal-directed effort, typically implying pursuit over time rather than a single action. In everyday use, it frequently appears in contexts like careers, hobbies, or legal/academic contexts where active striving is emphasized.
nounPursuit is the act of chasing or striving to attain something, often with determination. It can denote a quest or goal-directed effort, typically implying pursuit over time rather than a single action. In everyday use, it frequently appears in contexts like careers, hobbies, or legal/academic contexts where active striving is emphasized.
How to Pronounce Pursuit
"The detective's pursuit of the truth lasted for years."
"She abandoned the dull job in pursuit of a lifelong dream."
"The government intensified its pursuit of tax evaders."
Pursuit is pronounced /ˈpɜrˌsut/ in US English and /pəˈsjuːt/ in UK English. The stress falls on the first syllable, with a secondary beat before the final syllable. Start with a mid back lax vowel for the first syllable, then glide into a clear 'sjuː' (UK) or 'sut' (US) ending. Mouth positions: lips relaxed, tongue mid-back for /ɜ/; for /sjuː/ you’ll start with an /s/ then a rounded /j/ to form /juː/. In practice, you’ll hear a subtle pause or light vowel between the two parts, reflecting the two-morpheme feel of the word: PUR-suit.
Common errors include saying it as two separate, overly clipped syllables: 'pur-suit' with no secondary stress or a flat /juː/ that lacks the /j/ glide. Some speakers overcorrect to a 'pər-SOOT' with a long /oo/ vowel instead of /uː/ as in /ˈpɜrˌsut/. To fix, keep the first syllable with /ɜr/ and attach the second syllable with a light /sut/; ensure the /ɜr/ and /s/ flow smoothly into /sut/ without a hard stop.
In US English, /ˈpɜrˌsut/ uses rhotacized /ɜr/ with a pronounced 'r' before the /s/. In UK English, /pəˈsjuːt/ features a reduced first vowel and a clear /juː/ on the second syllable; non-rhoticity may mute the 'r' after the vowel. Australian tends toward /ˈpəːsjuːt/ or /ˈpɜːsjuːt/, with a longer vowel in the first syllable and a strong /j/ glide into /uː/. Pay attention to vowel length and rhotic presence when comparing accents.
The challenge lies in the vowel combination and the 'ju' glide: US /ˈpɜrˌsut/ includes a mid-central /ɜr/ with rhotic coloring, which can be tricky for non-rhotic speakers. The transition from /ɜr/ to /sut/ demands a quick, nearly seamless motion, and the /ju/ sequence in many accents requires a subtle lip rounding and tongue position moving from a central vowel to a high back rounded vowel. Practicing with a steady tempo helps make the glide feel natural.
Is the 'r' in Pursuit always pronounced in all dialects? Not exactly. In many British varieties, the /r/ is not pronounced unless it is followed by a vowel; however, in the second syllable /sut/ there is typically no /r/. In American speech, the /r/ in the first syllable is pronounced before the consonant that follows, making /ˈpɜrˌsut/. This mix means you should adapt to the local rhythm: pronounce the /r/ clearly in the first syllable when you’re aiming for American pronunciation, but omit it in many British contexts where the first syllable is rhoticized less.
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Pursuit comes from the Old French poursuit or poursuire, from the verb poursuivre meaning 'to pursue' or 'to chase.' The root is Latin persequi, meaning 'to follow to the end' from per- 'through' + sequi 'to follow.' In Middle English, pursuit referred to the act of following or chasing someone, often in legal or hunting contexts. Over time, the sense broadened to include the figurative chase after goals, ambitions, or knowledge. The word entered English in the 14th century and evolved with nuances reflecting persistence, duration, and pursuit as an intentional, goal-oriented activity. Across centuries, the word reinforced ideas of determination and active striving rather than passive observation, aligning with the modern uses in education, career, and personal development.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pursuit" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pursuit"
-uit sounds
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