5 syllables: vi, ce, pre, si, dent. Stress on pre.
veye-SPREZ-id-uhnt
/ˌvaɪsˈprɛzɪdənt/
vicepresident is pronounced veye-SPREZ-id-uhnt (/ˌvaɪsˈprɛzɪdənt/). It has five syllables (vi-ce-pre-si-dent), with the stress on "pre". A deputy or substitute holder of the presidency in a government or organization, often next in line to assume the office. The term combines the words ‘vice’ meaning secondary or deputy, and ‘president’ referring to the head of state or organization. It denotes a formal title with political and administrative responsibilities, commonly encountered in constitutional contexts and corporate governance alike.
A deputy or substitute holder of the presidency in a government or organization, often next in line to assume the office. The term combines the words ‘vice’ meaning secondary or deputy, and ‘president’ referring to the head of state or organization. It denotes a formal title with political and administrative responsibilities, commonly encountered in constitutional contexts and corporate governance alike.
"The vice president presented the budget proposal to the board and outlined key strategic goals."
"In the presidential election, the vice president was chosen to balance the ticket."
"The vice president led the crisis response team during the emergency meeting."
You say /ˈvaɪsˌprɛzɪdənt/ (US/UK/AU share the /ˈvaɪs/ onset with ‘vice’ and /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ for ‘president’). Primary stress is on the first syllable of the compound: VICE. The second element carries secondary stress, so you articulate PRĒZ-ih-dent with clear halting emphasis on PRE. Mouth positions: start with a high back rounded /v/ for the initial vowel, then glide into /aɪ/ as in ‘fly,’ place /s/ at the end of ‘vice,’ then move into /prɛ/ with a rolled or aspirated stop, and finish with /zɪdən/. A short pause between the two parts helps clarity in careful speech.
Common errors include misplacing syllable stress (treating it as VĪCE-prĒZ-i-dent), dropping the /pr/ cluster too softly (leading to ‘viceezident’), and confusing /ˈprɛzɪ/ with /ˈpræzɪ/ due to vowel shift. Correct by anchoring to the strong first syllable VICE and maintaining a crisp /pr/ onset for the second word. Practice saying VICE-PRÉZ-ih-dent with a brief hiatus between /ˈvaɪs/ and /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ to prevent blending.
In US and AUS accents, you’ll hear a rhotic /r/ in 'president' with /prɛzɪd(ə)nt/, and the vowel in /ɛ/ as in ‘bet’ but slightly broader. UK speakers often reduce /ˑprɛzɪdən/ with less rhoticity in non-rhotic variants, so the /r/ is silent or weak. The primary stress remains on VICE, but the second part’s intonation can drift: US tends to a more clipped /ˌprezɪˈdent/, UK may have a flatter rhythm, and AU is typically rhotic but can glide vowels differently in connected speech.
The difficulty arises from the /ˈvaɪs/ + /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ boundary: the /pr/ cluster after a stressed syllable requires precise articulation to avoid inserting an extra vowel. Also, the unstressed /ɪ/ in /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ can reduce toward schwa in fast speech, making it sound like /ˈvaɪsˌprɛzədənt/. Mastering the stretch between the two words and keeping the second element distinct helps maintain intelligibility.
A unique focus is the dual-structure compound: ensure the leading /ˈvaɪs/ is crisp and the /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ segment maintains a clear secondary stress and syllabic cadence. Don’t fuse the parts into a single syllable; keep a light, perceptible pause or boundary between /ˈvaɪs/ and /ˌprɛzɪdənt/ to preserve the integrity of both elements, particularly in careful or formal speech.
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US: Keep rhotic /r/ in 'president' and a clear /ˈvaɪs/ onset; UK: often non-rhotic, so /ˈvaɪsˌprezɪdənt/ may lack a strong /r/; AU: usually rhotic with a relaxed /ə/ in unstressed syllables and slightly different vowel qualities. Reference IPA as above for accuracy. Practice listening for subtle vowel shifts: US /ɛ/ can be slightly tenser than UK /e/, AU /e/ tends toward mid-front vowel; keep /ɪ/ clear in /ɪdənt/ to avoid merging with /iː/.
The term vice president originates from Latin via Old French. The component vice comes from Latin vicis ‘in turn, instead’ and French vice ‘deputy’; it signals a role occupying a secondary position to a principal officeholder. President derives from Latin praesidens, present participle of praesidere ‘to preside’ (to sit in front of or lead). The compound vice president thus literally means ‘in place of the president.’ In English, the term was reinforced in medieval and early modern governance as parliamentary and colonial structures formalized deputy leadership. The earliest uses appear in constitutional and legal contexts as a recognized office in corporate and political systems. Over time, the role evolved to include succession planning, ceremonial duties, and executive responsibilities, depending on the jurisdiction. The word is widely adopted in government, international organizations, and multinational corporations, often carrying constitutional significance and explicit line-of-succession implications. First known English attestations of the phrase appear in 18th to 19th-century political discourse as republican and constitutional frameworks expanded the stability and governance templates in emergent nation-states.
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Words that rhyme with "vicepresident"
-ent sounds
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