How to Pronounce “entrepreneur”

American (US)

/ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/

British (UK)

/ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/

noun — A person who sets up a business and takes on the financial risk of running it.

Example: The entrepreneur sold her second company at thirty.

Synonyms: founder, businessperson

A loanword from French. From French “entreprendre”, to undertake. The stress falls on the final -eur, which is unusual for a long noun in English and is the part most speakers get wrong.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/ 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 "entrepreneur" mean?

entrepreneur (noun): A person who sets up a business and takes on the financial risk of running it. For example — The entrepreneur sold her second company at thirty.

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

American English: /ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/. British English: /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "entrepreneur"?

/ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/ in American English, /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "entrepreneur"?

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

How to Pronounce Finance Terms — Money Words, With Audio

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