How to Pronounce “compendium”

American (US)

/kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/

British (UK)

/kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/

noun — A short, complete summary; an abstract.

Where the stress falls. “compendium” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "compendium" mean?

compendium (noun): A short, complete summary; an abstract.

How do you pronounce "compendium" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "compendium", /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "compendium"?

/kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/ in American English, /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "compendium"?

“compendium” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.