How to pronounce "prime" in EnglishNoun
praɪm
PRYM
Primary stress: PRYM
We haven’t indexed spoken video clips for this word in our library yet. You can listen to its audio pronunciation, review phonetic IPA, and check definitions below.
No video clips indexed yet for “prime”
We haven’t indexed spoken video clips for this word in our library yet. You can listen to its audio pronunciation, review phonetic IPA, and check definitions below.
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “prime”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
PRYM
Gliding diphthong with sustained vocal resonance.
As a single-syllable word, "prime" receives full primary stress when spoken in isolation, though it may take a reduced weak form in connected speech when acting as a function word.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Single-syllable words like "prime" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech.
How Native Speakers Say It: Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "prime" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When followed by a vowel, insert a subtle glide (/w/ or /j/) to connect into the subsequent word without an abrupt glottal stop.
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "prime" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Practice Speaking “prime”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
Our prime concern here is to keep the community safe.
Hear it in context: “prime”
The English word “prime” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as praɪm (phonetic respelling: PRYM). Phonologically, it consists of 1 syllable (PRYM), pronounced as a single stressed monosyllable. Grammatically, “prime” functions as a adjective, noun, verb and acts as an English heteronym where syllable stress shifts between noun (initial-syllable stress) and verb (second-syllable stress) usage. Hear native speakers say prime in context across real video clips
Definition & Meaning: “prime”
- First in importance, degree, or rank.
- First in time, order, or sequence.
- The first hour of daylight; the first canonical hour.
- The religious service appointed to this hour.
- To fill or prepare the chamber of a mechanism for its main work.
- To apply a coat of primer paint to.
Example Sentences (2)
- “Our prime concern here is to keep the community safe.”
- “Both the English and French governments established prime meridians in their capitals.”
Pronounce: “prime”
- Pronunciation:
- PRYM
- Syllables:
- PRYM
- Written Hyphenation:
- prime
- Primary stress:
- PRYM
- IPA:
- praɪm
- Hear it in context
- prime
Synonyms: “prime”
Hear words related in meaning to “prime” in real video clips:
Words that Rhyme with “prime”
-aɪmWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"prime" (⁄praɪm⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "prime" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about prime
How do you pronounce “prime”?
“prime” is pronounced ⁄praɪm⁄ (PRYM). Listen to the audio pronunciation above to hear it spoken clearly.
Where is the stress in “prime”?
The primary stress in “prime” is on “PRYM”.
What does “prime” mean?
First in importance, degree, or rank.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “prime”?
Single-syllable words like "prime" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech. Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "prime" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.