Proper Pronunciation Guide

surprise

[sə prɑ͜iz]

Tips:

  • Be sure to pronounce this word as two distinct syllables—and not as one syllable [sprɑ͜iz].
  • Pronounce the letters “ur” in the first syllable as the weak schwa vowel
    /ə/.
  • Be sure to voice the final consonant
    /z/ sufficiently and sustain it slightly (unless, of course, it is linked into the initial vowel of a following word, as it is in the third sentence below).

Practice Sentences:

 What a surprise!
Her friends had a surprise birthday party for her.
Let's surprise everyone.

Notes:

The letters “ur” are pronounced as the weak schwa vowel /ə/ rather than the weak R-Vowel /ɚ/  because, as is the case with other words such as governor and reservoir, one “r” is sometimes dropped in the pronunciation when there is more than one “r” in the spelling.

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